Residents in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, have expressed strong dissatisfaction with Anglian Water's newly imposed hosepipe ban, arguing it is 'crazy' to restrict water usage while significant leaks continue to go unaddressed in their town. The ban, which came into effect on Saturday, applies to domestic activities such as watering gardens with a hosepipe, filling paddling pools, and washing cars.
Multiple streets in Barton-upon-Humber, including Marsh Lane, Eastfield Road, and Chapel Lane, have recently experienced leaks. A burst mains pipe on Fleetgate has even led to a partial road closure. Sharon Hewitt, a resident on Fleetgate, highlighted the apparent contradiction: "It's crazy. There's water gushing out like that when we're not allowed to water our gardens." Another resident, Glynis Nifton, noted the presence of road closure signs on Sunday but observed no immediate action to fix the issues, adding that this was not an isolated incident but the "worst" of several leaks around Barton.
Anglian Water has attributed the recent mains burst to ground movement caused by the prevailing high temperatures. The company stated that its teams are "working hard through the hot weather to prioritise repairs that are having the greatest impact." However, residents like Patrick Ladley have voiced concerns over the perceived delay in addressing leaks, claiming that the company often takes "about a month or six weeks before they do anything with it."
The frustration among locals is further compounded by the fact that they continue to pay their full water bills despite the restrictions and the visible wastage from leaks. "They're letting all this water run down the drains and we don't get any reduction in our water bills," Ladley added. The temporary restrictions allow for watering fruit, vegetables, and gardens using a watering can, but prohibit hosepipe use for these and other specified domestic activities.
In their announcement of the hosepipe ban, Anglian Water described the measures as "temporary" and thanked customers for their patience "while we respond to the challenges created by this period of exceptionally warm weather." The company maintains that its focus remains on addressing critical repairs while managing demand during the current dry spell.