FLOOD-hit families have hit out at Thames Water after learning that a promised meeting will not take place this year.

Normandy Crescent residents are angry after a Thames Water letter said a meeting would only be held when an investigation into a burst pipe was finished.

A water main burst on September 23 for the second time in seven years, devastating homes in the Cowley street.

Six days later, Thames Water Government liaison officer Huw Thomas said the company would meet residents when it had more information.

He said: “What we don’t want to do is have a meeting today and say sorry we can’t answer that.

“We can come back when we have proper answers about the pipe.”

Mother-of-three Pauline Ximines, 47, said: “It does not mean anything to us. It’s a joke, it’s a big joke.

“The things they have put in the letter are not helping us at all.”

Mother-of-two Mandy Blessing, 46, said: “I don’t understand why they are saying they need to analyse the report.

“Logically we understand that, however where people have a lot of questions. I feel there should be a meeting just to answer people’s general questions.”

Thames Water spokesman Stuart White said: “We wrote to residents to provide a full update and we plan to hold a meeting in the New Year once we’ve reviewed the findings of the independent investigation.

“It’s important we have all the information for this, so by waiting until January we’ll be able to report back on the investigation and explain what we can do next to reduce the risk of further incidents.”

 

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