Sewage seeping into Godalming High Street threatened to ruin Christmas for some businesses.
Last weekend-end business owners put up the CLOSED signs because their basements flooded with sewage.
It appears there was a blockage near the Red Lion Pub.
Thames Water was seen working in the car park behind a row of shops throughout the week, but no one had warned business owners of any potential problems.
The Works (in the old Halfords shop ) – at the opposite end of the High Street to The Pepperpot – flooded, and it believed it would have to stay closed till after Christmas. They had just received all their deliveries – and the shop was crammed with Christmas wares.
Samantha Black, general manager for DK Guitars, said: “Thames Water did send a clean-up team quickly, but I wish they could have just said something before so that we could have put some sandbags down.”
Paul Foster arrived to work at DK Guitars on the high street to find the basement flooded with an inch of sewage.
Thames Water left a note at shops telling owners about the work at 11 pm on November 14. The affected businesses say they could not contact Thames Water until late on Saturday evening.
The flooding happened on the same day assurances had been given to residents by Waverley Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Thames Water that flooding on the same scale as last winter would not happen again.
Representatives from Thames Water said improvements had been made in three areas: upply maintenance and improvements of the waste network.
A Thames Water spokesperson said:
“This incident was due to the sewer being blocked by a build-up of fat, oil and grease, which we cleared on Friday night. We also cleaned and disinfected the flooded properties inside and out. We’re planning to use CCTV to check for any underlying defects in the sewer and will also give the pipes a thorough clean to reduce the risk of further incidents.”
I went to The Works in Godalming today, Monday . Still a sign saying they were closed and directing people to their Guildford store in White Lion Walk. They seem to have packed all their stock up high at the front end of the store so presumably the problem is at the back. A great shame. Now all light are out and no sign of life.
Popular store and in the run up to Xmas it’s not good. Who wants to trek to Guildford with parking prices £3.60 minimum.
Aside of that – different subject – tried my best to buy some small light bulbs this week in Godalming at Sainsbury’s (not doing them any more) then tried Homebase (staff not sure if they did them but none on the shelf) then tried Robert Dyas, no luck there either. I tried to do the right thing and use local shops. No wonder we all use Amazon. I got some there in seconds on line…