We've all finally had something in writing from Smith's Farms about their intention to cut off the water supply that their family has provided to the entire Lee-Over-Sands community of 34 properties since their father bought the original "Healthy Lee-Over-Sands estate" as it was called back in the 1930's to 1950's and accepted the covenants to continue supply as part of the land purchase.
In the last year they have quoted maintenance and ongoing cost issues as their reason for doing this. However residents have not taken anything seriously as there has been nothing put in writing until now with only a month to their own deadline.
In June, as stated in an undated letter hand delivered at the end of April, we heard that they plan on cutting us off from their water supply if we don't all agree to pay £1000 each towards a new proposed "communal" water supply pipe running along Lee-Wick-Lane and release their liability to us as a private water supplier.
Smith's Farms of Wigborough Wick Lane obviously want to resolve the issue as soon as possible, after talking to us a year ago, we found that the bill quoted by water companies to run a new main was just too high for residents to afford. In early 2011, Smith's Farms ran a low specification non water company adoptable pipe through Lee-Wick-Farm in advance before any formal consultation with all residents was made, the outcome of which and subsequent refusal for re-digging a better pipe has led us now to have no alternatives but to accept a communally owned pipe supply rather than a "to spec" pipe supply that could be later adopted and managed by a water company.
Obviously residents are concerned by this step, as full water company adoption of a supply pipe will make it more convenient for the older residents to not have to worry about in the future should it develop faults.
After investigating alternatives (or the lack of them) we've asked for more information about how this will work, so far Mr Smith has not gone into any technical details about most importantly what we will get for our money, how the specification of the new pipework will compare to the old and how much will it cost us in the long-run, and whether Guy and Smith's Farms in exchange for the new pipework and release of liability will allow us free access to pipework in the future for maintenance where it crosses his land.
Additionally we're also concerned that he has admitted the existing system is "leaky" and "un-hygeinic" which obviously contravenes the laws on private water supplies and brings into question what we have been drinking!
His proposal for only replacing the supply to the edge of our community area falls short in scope, as the possibility of leaks in the system around the network of pipes around the two roads could lead us to a very large bill in relation to leakage, so a large portion of residents want the entire system replaced, and I'm sure most residents would be happy to spend more if extra cost is required to have a totally new system.
Aside from human rights legislation questioning the illegality of even being able to actively disconnect any users from a fully functioning water supply, from a legal standpoint we are keen to see Smith's Farm's encumberence and their desire to resolve the matter moving forwards and reach an affordable and sensible compromise. Worryingly though after seeing the tone and content of Mr Smith's recent emails as residents it looks like by issuing a disconnection date they plan on forcing us into accepting something that might cost us a lot to maintain in the future, becomes hard to manage due to non-payers and might be a lower standard to the current supply without resident's mutual agreement.
A number of residents, myself included have already asked for more technical details regarding their intentions but as yet have had no written reply, Once I get a reply I will put it here for residents to read.
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