Water firm criticised for signage

THAMES Water has been criticised for inadequate signage warning of a sinkhole in Caversham.

Drivers are attempting to travel along Kidmore Road, where part of the road collapsed on January 12 after a burst water pipe caused a section to give way.

The site has now been excavated to expose the burst pipe and is cordoned off by blue fencing which blocks traffic from passing through the road.

However, no advanced warning signs were put up in Shepherd’s Lane, which feeds into the top of Kidmore Road.

Councillor Isobel Ballsdon, who represents Caversham Heights, said that vehicles are being taken by surprise when they reach the closure.

She said: “A lot of drivers were coming along Shepherd’s Lane travelling East towards Kidmore Road and finding out too late that the road was closed.

“I’ve been battling, frankly, with the help of Reading Borough Council highways officers to get Thames Water to make improvements to the signage.

“I’ve sent 11 emails to Thames Water and I’ve had numerous phone calls with them and phone calls with highways at Reading Borough Council and the signs were only changed on Tuesday night. If only this happened a week and a half ago.”

A spokeswoman for Thames Water apologised for any disruption and said contractors were still waiting on safety checks to be carried out before work can begin to repair the broken pipe.