A major pipe burst on Sunday has resulted in significant damage to Salisbury Terrace in York, leading to its ongoing closure. Yorkshire Water confirmed that a 21-inch (53cm) diameter water main fractured, releasing a torrent of water that overwhelmed several streets and properties in the area. Emergency services, including North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, were called to the scene at approximately 19:30 BST to manage the situation and assist affected residents.
The force of the flood caused extensive erosion to the road surface on Salisbury Terrace, necessitating its closure for essential repairs. While the street remains inaccessible for through traffic, Yorkshire Water has established alternative routes, with access via Lincoln Street and temporary access to Balfour Street from Swinerton Avenue. A spokesperson for the utility company stated their commitment to restoring normalcy to the area "as soon as possible," indicating ongoing efforts to repair both the damaged pipe and the road infrastructure.
Two properties suffered direct flooding as a result of the incident. The Jubilee pub, currently undergoing conversion into flats, had its basement inundated, requiring North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service to pump out the water. Developer Stuart Stagg described the rapid onset of the flood, estimating initial repair costs for the basement alone to be between seven and eight thousand pounds, with further, deeper structural repairs expected to be covered by Yorkshire Water.
Adjacent to the collapsed road section, Valerie Turbot's home was also severely affected. Ms Turbot recounted discovering water 'paddling' in her front room, highlighting the immediate need for a new wooden floor due to swelling and potential damage to floorboards and joists. She drew a parallel to the River Ouse flood of 1978, which also necessitated similar extensive repairs to her home, underscoring the severity of the recent incident.
Local residents have been advised to check for updates from Yorkshire Water regarding the progress of the repairs and the reopening of Salisbury Terrace. The incident highlights the vulnerability of aging infrastructure to sudden failures, which can have immediate and costly impacts on both public services and private properties.