SEVERN TRENT THE WEAKEST LINK SAYS MP

5.56.55pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jul 2007

CHELTENHAM MP MARTIN HORWOOD has criticised Severn Trent Water's emergency response in his flood-hit constituency. 'Many organisations have come well out of the crisis' said Martin, 'notably the emergency services, the military, local radio stations and many individual friends and neighbours who have looked out for the most vulnerable in their neighbourhoods. But Severn Trent today looks like a weak link.'

'The initial delivery of 110 bowsers to Cheltenham represents just one per thousand head of population. So it's no wonder so many have run dry so quickly. I checked a dozen late last night and found the majority empty. And delivery was very patchy. Long stretches of major roads and whole neighbourhoods like Tivoli or the George Reddings Estate in Hesters Way didn't have any at all. Business areas like Bath Road were very poorly served despite the fact that businesses are already closing and at least one told me his whole business was at risk if this continued for more than a week. We now have upwards of 250 bowsers and more are expected but it is now three days since the Mythe pumping station was flooded and we knew this was coming.'

'The strong impression is that Severn Trent did not have well worked-out plans for how to source bowsers or where to deliver them in the event of a critical interruption to supply. It is true that the flooding of the Mythe pumping station was unexpected but its operation could have been interrupted by other unexpected events and I would have expected better contingency plans to be in place.'

'I also hope that plans to permanently flood-proof the facility will now be put in place as a matter of urgency, along with the Walham electricity sub-station. As the unusual behaviour of the jet stream is likely to cause further bad weather this summer, we should be prepared in case these events are repeated.'

'This situation is really very serious for businesses, for the elderly and vulnerable and for young families. I hope Severn Trent will now move heaven and earth to get Mythe back into service.'