MP holds Anglian Water accountable for disruptions impacting local villages
Daventry MP pushes for enhanced water supply resilience and communication
Conservative MP for Daventry, Stuart Andrew, has met with senior representatives of Anglian Water following recent disruptions in water supply that have affected residents in several Northamptonshire villages, including East Farndon, Clipston, Arthingworth, and Great Oxendon.
The meeting was prompted by representations from residents and parish councils, highlighting issues such as lack of water supplies, challenges in accessing bottled water, support for vulnerable customers, and insufficient communication during outages.
Stuart Andrew confronted Anglian Water regarding its management of the incidents, seeking assurances that future disruptions will be mitigated through improved protocols and investment in the local network.
Additionally, Stuart Andrew raised persisting concerns from Upper Boddington and Eydon, where residents have endured recurrent water-related incidents. Anglian Water admitted the system is strained and committed to investing in long-term resilience enhancements.
Following the meeting, Stuart Andrew stated, "Many residents were understandably frustrated by what happened and the difficulties experienced accessing information, bottled water, and support during the disruption. I wanted to ensure Anglian Water heard those concerns directly and was held accountable."
He welcomed the company's recognition of its response shortcomings and pledged to keep pushing Anglian Water to fulfill its improvement commitments.
He added, "I am keen to ensure vulnerable residents are aware of the support available to them.
I will be writing to residents to raise awareness of Anglian Water's Priority Services Register, which can provide additional assistance during service interruptions for those who may need it."
Anglian Water acknowledged that communications with customers and bottled water distribution were not good enough and accepted that improvements are needed. The company also outlined plans for investment to improve resilience within the local network.