Businesses and residents in Rye and Camber say the compensation offered by Southern Water after the supply was cut is nowhere near good enough, and have urged the company to think again. Thousands of homes and businesses were left with no water or low pressure for several days in September and October after a leak at the Udimore Reservoir.
The Mermaid in Rye has been given just £75 to compensate for days without water pressure and hundreds of cancellations, costing over £35,000. Owner Judith Blincow said she thought the letter confirming the amount was a joke. "I couldn't believe it. We lost 380 reservations in the hotel and restaurant, so £75 is pathetic. Why bother? It's just an insult." As well as being angry about the amount of compensation, Judith is also questioning how it was calculated. "Everyone has been ringing me to compare the amount they've been given. None of the credits make any sense. One business told me they got £750 and they've only got one toilet."
During the water cuts, water stations were set up in Rye and Camber with thousands of bottles of water also delivered to homes and businesses. Southern Water says those affected have been given between compensation from its guaranteed standards scheme, but there are also questions over how the amounts awarded have been calculated for residents too.
John Bradford, a Camber parish councillor, told Rye News his bill has been credited with £30 which the water company says is the equivalent payment for being without water for 12-24 hours. “It’s derisory. Without water for 12-24 hours? That’s a serious underestimate that needs challenging. Some priority bottled water deliveries did not arrive for four or five days, let alone the lack of supply to the home taps. We need Southern Water to produce evidence.”
Helena Dollimore, Labour's candidate in Hastings and Rye said: "I am calling on Southern Water to do the right thing for residents and businesses by going beyond the Ofwat bare minimum compensation guidelines. For those businesses and families under severe financial strain, emergency grants should be given. And I’m calling on the government to reform these Ofwat guidelines urgently."
A Southern Water spokesperson told Rye News: “We would like to apologise again to all those affected by the loss of supply and low water pressure in Rye. The situation was particularly challenging at the time, due to the burst pipe’s location under the railway line and was fixed as quickly as possible, as we worked round the clock to restore supply. In terms of compensation for people affected, we have made payments totalling £173,300 to 2,705 customers through our guaranteed standards scheme, in amounts varying from £30-£300. As a further apology, we are looking into making grants to community organisations in Rye, to reaffirm our commitment to the customers and communities we serve."
