Hundreds of homes and businesses were without running water as Western Road flooded along the stretch where the road is being dug out, rebuilt and resurfaced.
The loss of water affected people living in the streets off Western Road too, with one resident issuing a shout-out for water bottles and 72-hour deodorant.
The flood affected a length of the road where work started last week for about six weeks and only added to the concerns already voiced by some traders. One likened the road to a canal.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that there were two leaks, both the responsibility of Southern Water rather than the council or its contractor RJ Dance.
Labour councillor Trevor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said: “While work was being carried out to reconstruct and resurface Western Road, contractors discovered two existing leaks from water pipes beneath the road.
“Southern Water have confirmed the leaks are on their assets and are currently on site assessing and repairing the leaks.
“We know the importance of identifying and addressing problems with ageing water infrastructure before they cause further disruption under the road surface.
“While we’re on site, council teams will provide access for Southern Water to carry out their repairs swiftly.
“Anyone who notices a loss of water supply or reduced water pressure should report this directly to Southern Water as the statutory water undertaker responsible for your water supply.
“The discovery also demonstrates why it is important that we get on with these major works in Western Road.
“Surveys showed that the road’s underlying structure had deteriorated significantly, requiring us to go much deeper than a standard resurfacing treatment to reconstruct failed sections and address issues beneath the ageing carriageway.
“We are working proactively with Southern Water to identify and resolve any further issues while the road is closed for these works, helping to reduce the risk of avoidable disruption after the reconstruction is complete.
“I want to thank residents and businesses for their patience and continued understanding while we carry out these major improvements to Western Road.”
This evening (Tuesday 6 October), the council’s Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to consider a request to call in the decision to turn the 1km-long stretch of road into a red route.
Red lines would replace the yellow lines, prohibiting stopping except in marked bays, and the rules would be enforced by cameras.
The council said that it would help to tackle anti-social parking, improve safety, speed up bus journey times and cut congestion.
Critics said that the scheme was all about making money and cited financial windfalls from fines since red routes were introduced in London Road and Lewes Road.
Traders in Western Road said that almost all the premises had no rear access, meaning deliveries have to be made to and sent out from the front of the building.
Disability groups have also complained that the red route will make it harder for people with mobility problems and poor or no vision.
Existing leaks. Or when the excavator “dug” down to them?
Muton really is clueless and would be better supporting Trump with all this denial and misinformation to the electorate
Well yes it does make sense considering the road was sinking and crumbling. Not everything is a conspiracy
Not one, but two existing leaks.
What are the odds?
If this was the fault of the contractor damaging the main Souther Water would be shouting it from the heavens.
Never a leak or two it was hit by the digger especially the size of the main in that part of hove,ex water board employee??? No they would not make it known to who caused it ,but muten is responsible for all of what takes place but will he put his hands ,,don’t think so but ,, if this had been a leak it would have lifted half the road up the pressure in those main pipes are extraordinarily high depending on the size of it 4in is 400lb square inch this will be much bigger than that God help us if muten becomes any more delusional than he is at the moment I dread to think what the finished western road is going to be as this council has stated we the public will not be privi to anything it’s a starzi run club for CLOAK and dagger politics the sooner the damm incompetent lot gets outed the better there are not many of my friends whom vote for different parties all say the same they are useless
Find me a 400psi main and I’ll eat my shorts. Unusual to find anything more than 10 br (145psi)
Seanus, are you on the spectrum bruv?
It’s a bit of tarmac lol calm down, people are actually at war overseas and tarmac gets you this upset…
Two simultaneous leaks on the same day? Corblimey, what are the chances of that? Anyone seen the two twelve years olds from Council Transport supposedly project managing this clusterfluck?
So what date are the 45 days of roadworks going to be finished??? Theo said there was time built in to deal with any problems.
I have never in my life time seen such a massive waste of water tumbling out or a road repair scheme. Tonight the companies responsible simply went home and did not attempt to fix it. It is literally like a huge waterfall pumping out on to the proposed area for resurfacing. The entire area of new tarmac will now not last very long due to an unstable sub structure. OMG
As I’ve said on numerous occasions, it should only be the south side that is a red route And I think this would solve 99% of the problems and then use Parking attendants to police the the north side continuously. Northside disabled Bays and loading -unloading Bays.
A disgrace as usual from the Council. All they want to do is get rid of cars, then pedestrianise various areas. Nobody seems to realise we are now a nation of 2 -3 car owners. My last property had x 6 vehicles opposite… where do they park. This water leak costs will somehow be ‘hiked’ to the residents I am sure. Regrets that we live in an evil world whereby every politician lies as do councillors only to benefit themselves. GREED is the word
John B