Village fury as drivers ignore traffic barriers
Villagers whose homes were flooded when a pipe burst are facing fresh misery because of drivers ignoring a road closure and damaging their front gardens, it has been claimed.
People in Prees, near Whitchurch, today claimed that passing traffic has damaged their property since the leak, which sent flood water cascading down Moreton Street last Wednesday.
The road closure, which Severn Trent Water today said is likely to remain until the weekend, was imposed so contractors could restore supply and repair the road surface.
But some motorists have been squeezing through.
Len Gibbons, a resident, said: "The road is 4.8 metres wide, but there are plastic barriers down the middle where they dug a trench to repair the pipe, so that leaves about 2.5 metres to squeeze past.
"A neighbour's rockery was damaged by passing traffic.
"Most drivers just seem to ignore the closure – it's an utter shambles."
Neighbour June Childs said: "Passing traffic has knocked things over in our front garden, it's been terrible.
"Lorries, buses and even a road sweeper have ignored the road closure."
Cam Morgan, Severn Trent Water spokeswoman, said "We want to remind motorists that failure to observe the diversion route puts both road users and our contractors in danger."
