Updated: Burst pipe closes college

6:06am Wednesday 19th September 2007

Comments (4)   Have your say »

SOUTH East Essex College was forced to close and dozens of homes lost their water supplies after council contractors burst a main pipe.

W&H Roads is working to partly pedestrianise Elmer Approach, Southend, as part of a University of Essex-funded scheme.

Early yesterday, the contractors pierced a water pipe with a digger. As a result, South East Essex College's supply had to be switched off and students were told to go home. A total of 54 homes were without water for most of the day.

One passer-by, who saw the burst pipe, said: "It was like a river. The water was gushing down both sides of the road and on to the High Street.

"I jumped over it and it must have been about two feet wide." Dean Newman, spokesman for South East Essex College, said the college had no choice but to send students home.

He said: "We had been advised by the water board there was an external burst water main which was affecting the water supply into our Luker Road building, its Queens Road studio site and Extreme Studio.

"Due to this, the water supply was switched off for the remainder of the day, as a precautionary measure. Once the main has been repaired, we will need to allow the system to be flushed through.

"From a health and safety point of view, this meant the college had to close to both day and evening students, although the East Street Centre was fully operational."

Contemporary music student Marshall Gregory was celebrating his 18th birthday when he was given the day off.

He said: "We were all in the music studio when one of the top people at the college said it had to be closed.

"It was fine with me. It was my birthday, so it was quite nice."

Jacqueline Searle, spokesman for Essex and Suffolk Water, said the company tried to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

She said: "It arose from the contractors working in Elmer Approach.

"We are fixing the problem and the company will be billed."

Southend Council spokesman Michael Smith confirmed contractor W&H Roads had been carrying out the work.

He said: "Work is being carried out on a paving scheme which means the area will be partly pedestrianised."