Stannington Councillor issues challenge to Yorkshire Water over gas flooding

Councillor Penny Baker of Stannington ward has issued an open letter to Yorkshire Water, demanding answers over the gas flooding in Stannington which left over a thousand homes without heating during the winters first snowfall.

Writing to the company’s CEO Nicola Shaw, Cllr Baker asked how residents could be sure that the water network in the village was safe going forwards, demanded answers over why the area has been subject to so many burst pipes, and sought clarity on what compensation residents could expect.

Cllr Baker has also called for an inquiry into how the gas flood was allowed to happen, and where responsibility for the emergency lies.

Speaking in Stannington, Cllr Baker said “For me, Stannington is all about community. We always pull together when times are tough, and we are doing just that now. While the current situation is difficult, Stannington, as it always does, has shown a sense of strength and resilience.

Yorkshire water have a lot of questions to answer, and that’s why I’ve written to the CEO today. Residents and councillors have been reporting leaks for years, and these concerns should have been taken seriously.

We’ve seen very few people from Yorkshire Water on the ground, which I think is shocking considering their burst pipe begun this whole ordeal. They have a responsibility to look after vulnerable members of this community while the repair work is ongoing.

We’ve now got some reports of the water which flowed out of the gas network causing medical problems – residents have a right to know what’s in this water and what health risks it may carry.

The company has told us that we will get a full response soon, and I’m looking forward to  working with them to get answers, to get compensation, and most importantly to make sure that what’s happened here won’t happen again.