Ticknall suddenly found itself with a spectacular new water feature just after 10.00 am today when the road surface a few metres west of the Chequers Inn erupted into a fountain to rival Chatsworth.
Severn Trent contractors were unable to open the cover to access the valve in the pipe feeding the leak. Eventually the cover was smashed in order to gain access. However, a Severn Trent Water employee at the scene told Ticknall Life that they were unable to close the valve because the pipe was a pumped feed supplying The Scaddows reservoir on the road to Hartshorne. The leak was reported to Severn Trent Water at 10.10 am.
Ticknall residents have been plagued by water emerging from road surfaces for years and a recent road accident near the junction of High Street and Repton Road in frosty conditions was said to have been caused by this phenomenon. The A514 Main Street was closed by Severn Trent Water for several weeeks in July to enable the replacement of part of a culvert. Councillor Stefan Green has been monitoring flooding problems in Ticknall for some months and recently distributed a questionaire to residents in the Ashby Road/High Street area. Report here.
