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Leeds tower block starts second week without mains water Leeds 'luxury' tower block starts second week without mains water
(about 2 hours later)
Residents of four blocks of private flats in Leeds woke this morning to their seventh day without mains water and a warning from the city council that the situation is becoming untenable.Residents of four blocks of private flats in Leeds woke this morning to their seventh day without mains water and a warning from the city council that the situation is becoming untenable.
The plight of 353 apartments at West Point, one of the biggest of the developments in the city centre during the boom years, highlights the strain on infrastructure of dense new urban building and concern about materials used.The plight of 353 apartments at West Point, one of the biggest of the developments in the city centre during the boom years, highlights the strain on infrastructure of dense new urban building and concern about materials used.
The cluster was converted only seven years ago from Leeds' former Royal Mail depot and marketed initially as 'the most prestigious apartments in Leeds.' But its current plight stems from twin failures in plastic piping and problems finding spare parts for plumbing repairs.The cluster was converted only seven years ago from Leeds' former Royal Mail depot and marketed initially as 'the most prestigious apartments in Leeds.' But its current plight stems from twin failures in plastic piping and problems finding spare parts for plumbing repairs.
A plastic pipe fracture led to the cut-off on Wednesday 2 May and a temporary turn-on four days ago caused another, longer section of pipe to blow. The victims at West Point have been contacted by residents of a similar block in Manchester where water has just been restored after six days.A plastic pipe fracture led to the cut-off on Wednesday 2 May and a temporary turn-on four days ago caused another, longer section of pipe to blow. The victims at West Point have been contacted by residents of a similar block in Manchester where water has just been restored after six days.
A catalogue of complaints is pouring from an outstanding West Point blog, Waterless West Point with entries, by people using names such as Pooing-in-a-bag-Pete and Gav-without-a-lav, gradually changing from larky remarks about compensation for unwatered bonsai trees to angry concern. Those affected range from professionals owning their own properties to families with young children renting, and a Co-Op shop on the ground floor which was flood-damaged by the second burst which happened in its roof.A catalogue of complaints is pouring from an outstanding West Point blog, Waterless West Point with entries, by people using names such as Pooing-in-a-bag-Pete and Gav-without-a-lav, gradually changing from larky remarks about compensation for unwatered bonsai trees to angry concern. Those affected range from professionals owning their own properties to families with young children renting, and a Co-Op shop on the ground floor which was flood-damaged by the second burst which happened in its roof.
More regularly updated information is on a Facebook page here and here and by searching Twitter.More regularly updated information is on a Facebook page here and here and by searching Twitter.
The problem has been compounded by the Bank Holiday break, access difficulties and a management structure created in part by the decline of inner-city property values in the recession. Repairs are being handled by Mainstay, property agents who look after the complex for the West Point Management Company, who were called to a leak at 8.45am on Wednesday last. Shortly afterwards water pressure blew a five-inch hole in a plastic T-junction serving all four blocks in the complex.The problem has been compounded by the Bank Holiday break, access difficulties and a management structure created in part by the decline of inner-city property values in the recession. Repairs are being handled by Mainstay, property agents who look after the complex for the West Point Management Company, who were called to a leak at 8.45am on Wednesday last. Shortly afterwards water pressure blew a five-inch hole in a plastic T-junction serving all four blocks in the complex.
Mainstay has warned that insurance does not cover hotel stays or other temporary homes for the renting residents who have moved in as sales of flats declined in the weakening property market. The Labour MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, is pursuing the issue and tells residents on the blog:Mainstay has warned that insurance does not cover hotel stays or other temporary homes for the renting residents who have moved in as sales of flats declined in the weakening property market. The Labour MP for Leeds Central, Hilary Benn, is pursuing the issue and tells residents on the blog:
Once the water supply is back on, then no doubt the question of the insurance position will be pursued, and I'm very happy to help with this. Once the water supply is back on, then no doubt the question of the insurance position will be pursued, and I'm very happy to help with this. 

Portaloos and bottled water have been provided but the city council warns after an environmental health inspection yesterday, Tuesday 8 May, of:
Portaloos and bottled water have been provided but the city council warns after an environmental health inspection yesterday, Tuesday 8 May, of:
The need to get the mains water connected, and connected securely. The residents in the flats have been telling us this in no uncertain terms. It is not really tenable to go on for a considerable period of time without mains water.The need to get the mains water connected, and connected securely. The residents in the flats have been telling us this in no uncertain terms. It is not really tenable to go on for a considerable period of time without mains water.

Showers have been organised in local leisure centres, while other residents use friends' homes, in one case nearly 20 miles away. Others have decamped to hotels and started legal inquiries about claiming compensation. The father of one resident has come to the rescue from Grimsby, 80 miles away. He tells the blog:
Showers have been organised in local leisure centres, while other residents use friends' homes, in one case nearly 20 miles away. Others have decamped to hotels and started legal inquiries about claiming compensation. The father of one resident has come to the rescue from Grimsby, 80 miles away. He tells the blog:
My daughter is a specialist cardiac nurse at the Leeds General Infirmary, currently working a night shift.She has been unable to wash cloths & uniform & is now struggling to maintain personal hygiene. I am now in the situation of having to travel to Leeds early tomorrow morning to pick her up following tonights shift, bring her & laundry to Grimsby Lincolnshire so she can at least sleep, while I sort her laundry.My daughter is a specialist cardiac nurse at the Leeds General Infirmary, currently working a night shift.She has been unable to wash cloths & uniform & is now struggling to maintain personal hygiene. I am now in the situation of having to travel to Leeds early tomorrow morning to pick her up following tonights shift, bring her & laundry to Grimsby Lincolnshire so she can at least sleep, while I sort her laundry.
Mainstay says that delays have been compounded by the need to wait for adhesive to dry on replacement sections of plastic pipe and problems finding new parts. The company says in a statement on the residents' blog:Mainstay says that delays have been compounded by the need to wait for adhesive to dry on replacement sections of plastic pipe and problems finding new parts. The company says in a statement on the residents' blog:
We sought the advice of four independent and national engineering companies, specialising in these types of major water losses and these companies did attend site to examine the exact problem, and in one instance we were able to visually inspect a stock of parts brought to site by one of these national companies, however the parts were not suitable and we could not use them to effect a repair, even a temporary repair.We sought the advice of four independent and national engineering companies, specialising in these types of major water losses and these companies did attend site to examine the exact problem, and in one instance we were able to visually inspect a stock of parts brought to site by one of these national companies, however the parts were not suitable and we could not use them to effect a repair, even a temporary repair.

The latest prediction is that water could be restored by the end of today, but the matter will not end there. Service charges even for the smallest studio flats are more than £500 annually with an additional ground rent of £260. One of the most recent blog entries warns:
The latest prediction is that water could be restored by the end of today, but the matter will not end there. Service charges even for the smallest studio flats are more than £500 annually with an additional ground rent of £260. One of the most recent blog entries warns:
Can't wait for the next leaseholder meeting, bearing in mind that last one was so volatile.Can't wait for the next leaseholder meeting, bearing in mind that last one was so volatile.