Latest news with #MatthewDean
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Balcombe Airbnb host giving buckets for toilet flushing
A woman running an Airbnb in West Sussex says she has been giving guests buckets to flush the toilets as water supply issues to 700 customers were left without water, or with an intermittent supply, after problems during routine maintenance at a reservoir started affecting supplies on Wiltshire, who runs her Airbnb in Balcombe, said she had been warning guests about the water issues in advance of their Dean, head of operations in Sussex for South East Water, apologised to those affected and said most customers should now have water. Ms Wiltshire told BBC Radio Sussex there were some water butts at her property."I can't be flushing their loo, it's a personal thing," she said."I've been checking them in with a bucket and saying: 'This is what you do with the bucket to flush the loo'."She has also been pre-warning guests they will not be able to shower, particularly important for those who use it for a stopover for Gatwick Airport."When you come off a long-haul flight it's quite nice to have a shower," she said. 'Horror show' Ms Wiltshire said the supply seemed to have returned to her property, but that the last time she check the water company's online information, it did not say the issue was resolved."We're slightly holding our breath as to what will happen," she she added that her guests had been "incredibly nice" and that she had "bent over backwards" to help with other aspects of their stay. Conservative MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, Mims Davies, described the situation as "a horror show".She said when the issue had occurred during maintenance at a reservoir it "took some time to realise something had gone wrong" and to work out what it criticised South East Water's communications on the issues, saying the company had not "bothered telling people what's going on". 'Most now back in supply' A South East Water spokesperson said: "We've been sending tankers to the area to inject the mains pipes with water since Friday evening and will continue to do so until the supply has returned to normal. "Most customers should now be back in supply and the water pressures in the area have stabilised as we continue to use the tankers to inject water directly into our network."The said; "Customers entitled to a compensation payment under our guaranteed standards scheme will automatically receive a credit on their water supply account. "For business customers the credit will be made by their retailer."
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Sussex residents left without supply after South East Water works
A water company has apologised to customers left without supply due to routine maintenance to a in some parts of West Sussex said they had been left without water or with an intermittent supply since Dean, head of operations in Sussex for South East Water, apologised to those in Balcombe and Hassocks who had been Cross, 47, from Balcombe, said she first noticed issues with her supply on Friday. She told BBC South East she had been collecting bottled water from the village's social club, having not had "proper, consistent running water" since a husband, daughter and two dogs at home, she said they were "lucky" to have transport to be able to collect an ironing business from her home, Ms Cross said she was worried not just for residents but also for small businesses in the also raised concerns about the updates coming from the water company."Communication is key, this is where South East Water have let themselves down," she said."We just want to be told what is going on."Residents on social media ranged from reporting they had "just a trickle" to being "completely out" of Dean said the company was also aware of issues for properties near Paddockhurst Lane and was doing everything it could to provide these customers with water as soon as possible. There had been issues since a service reservoir was taken out of supply for routine maintenance on Friday, he said."South East Water has been sending tankers to the area to inject the mains pipes with water since Friday evening and will continue to do so until the supply has returned to normal," he added."Most customers should now be back in supply and the water pressures in the area have stabilised as we continue to use the tankers to inject water directly into our network."
