Swindon neighbours fume as burst water pipe attracting flies

Water from the leak at a property in Burbage Road, Penhill, has spilled onto the road and across the pavement, and has yet to be fixed a year after first being noticed.

Carmel Davis, who lives next door to the affected house, told the Adver the leak brings problems in both summer and winter.

“The smell is utterly disgusting and now that we have warmer weather I am infested with flies as the mess is attracting them,” she said.

The leak is coming from a property in Penhill. (Image: Dave Cox)

“Back in December there was a massive patch of ice outside their house and this was treacherous for anyone to get across.”

The 74-year-old is worried about how the problem could worsen if left unfixed.

“If that water comes down to my home, I can’t get out of the gate as I would be walking through it,” said the pensioner.

“I wouldn’t want to have to walk through it as the water looks foul and you don’t know what you are taking back into your house."

Residents have fumed at the leak and the problems it has brought. (Image: Dave Cox)

Carmel has lived at the property for over 50 years and has never seen anything like this before.

“In five decades this burst pipe is the worst issue I’ve seen and I just want it fixed so that I can enjoy the summer without that smell,” she said.

“I like to sit outside in my front garden and it’s a way of socialising as people stop and chat with me but I can’t currently do that because it stinks.”

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a leak at a property in Penhill, Swindon and sent engineers to investigate.

“We have since made numerous attempts to contact the property tenant in order to resolve the customer side leak.

“If the tenant does not organise for this to be fixed then we have powers under the Water Industry Act to carry out the necessary repairs.”

The company last wrote to the resident on June 1.