Basingstoke water leak: Couple share anger over Regents Court issues

Michael and Lindsay Danes moved into Regent Court in March last year but say the problem has been going on for much longer.

Michael said: “There have been a couple of leaks that have been fixed but the three that are going now have been going a long time and one of them is getting just worse and worse now, it is just pouring.

“It is so annoying to go past it every day, especially as we are supposed to be saving water and it is just pouring out and we have complained to the council and the waterboard (South East Water) but nobody has said they can do anything.”

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His wife Lindsay is also becoming increasingly fustrated with the situation.

She added: “We did complain to the people who run Regent Court and they just seem to send a letter, which does not seem satisfactory.

“It is a waste of water and nobody comes to do anything about it, and yet all the time officials are saying ‘oh you have got to save water'. It is annoying because why are we bothering to do these things to save the country when other people are getting away with doing nothing."

She continued: “It does affect your mental health because every time we walk past it you think ‘somebody do something’ and you feel absolutely powerless.

“I think it does have a detrimental effect on your mental health in that you feel depressed because you can’t do anything and nobody else will do anything.”

FirstPort, the management company that look after the flats, said the leak is down to poor maintenance.

A spokesperson said: “The leak in the overflow pipes was identified as being caused by poor maintenance within a small number of residents’ individual properties. As we are only responsible for the maintenance of the communal areas at Regent Court, property owners are advised to take a proactive approach to prevent leaks that are caused by issues within their own homes.

"We are, of course, on hand to support them and have been regularly writing to those affected and providing advice on the steps they should take to resolve the issue. The property manager is also on hand to support with any specific concerns or questions."

South East Water were contacted for a comment but did not respond.

The Gazette is aware of a several other leaks that have been reported including The Street in Old Basing and Penny's Hatch in Kingsclere where residents have said the road is slimy with a stream of water.

The water leak in Penny's Hatch

In Dummer Down Lane gallons of water is reportedly poring down the hill, which has now been left for more than two weeks.