Central Line resumes service (Thames Water problem remains)

Mile End Residents who are regular users of Central Line services will be pleased to hear that services have now re‑started between Bethnal Green and Leytonstone.  However, there are likely to be severe delays before it's completely back to normal.

Services were suspended yesterday due to the very severe flooding which was caused by a burst Thames Water main in the Stratford area.  This fused signals and flooded the tunnels and left tube travellers stranded in the tunnels.

Transport for London appear to have worked non-stop throughout the night to

•  remove two million gallons of flood water and 
• ensure that the tunnel, signalling, power and communications equipment were repaired.

Transport for London have offered their apologies for the inconvenience caused to people's journeys on Wednesday evening and Thursday.

The reality is, of course, is that they have nothing to apologise for.

The Thames Water Problem

This major problem was totally due to:

• the way Thames Water approaches its maintenance work - with little regard for the potential impact on consumers (MERA has been very unimpressed with its approach in the past!) and 
• its total inability to take appropriate responsibility for the burst main and its impact and to communicate effectively with the residents of East London as to what was happening yesterday.

There is still no news as to when the water main will be fixed.

In an emergency, this is what Thames Water is REQUIRED to do as per the OFWAT website.  Thames Water has FAILED to deliver services to standard during this emergency.

Emergency interruptionsIf the supply fails or is interrupted for emergency works, your company should tell you:

• that the supply has been interrupted or cut off
• where to get an alternative supply
• the time by when the supply will be restored
• the phone number from which you can get further information

When is Thames Water going to start remembering that it has a responsibility to the community to manage risks and avoid messing up?

When is Thames Water going to get an awful lot better at the way it approaches necessary work to water mains and drains?

When is communication by Thames Water going to start improving?

When is OFWAT - the Regulator for water services - going to ensure performance by Thames Water improves?

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Video: 2 MILLION litres of Thames Water floods Central Line

This is film footage from the BBC of what it looked like when 2 MILLION litres of water from the burst 24" drain in Wick Lane flooded the Central Line near the Olympic Park.

BBCTomEdwards's Space (see http://bbctomedwards-bmna.posterous.com/footage-of-2m-litres-of-water-flooding-centra )
Footage of 2m litres of water flooding #central line - hopefully this link works

Click here to download:

movie.mov (3.96 MB)

When you see that footage it becomes a lot clearer what sort of challenge now faces Transport for London and why the Central Line is suspended.

It looks like residents in the Mile End area wanting to use the Central Line will have to wait a while longer while they pump all that water out! 

For those wanting to travel by tube: These are links to:

• the departure Board for the Central Line at Mile End - currently marked out of service
• Engineering works planned for later today / lines suspended

Were you affected by the shutdown of the Central Line yesterday and today?

For more information, see previous posts:

• Thames Water: 24" burst water main affecting East London
• Central Line suspension to continue on Thursday?

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Central Line suspension to continue on Thursday?

Current indications are that the suspension of the Central Line suspension will continue and affect travel on the Central Line in East London on Thursday 7th June.

• As at 11:30pm, the Central Line remains suspended between Bethnal Green and Leytonstone. 
• If the work required to the flooded tunnel is not completed overnight, travel via Mile End Station is likely to be very disrupted in the rush hour.  
• There were very long delays for replacement bus services at Stratford last night.

The Central Line was suspended after a ventilation shaft in Wick Lane in Bow was flooded by a burst 24" water main.  Thames Water are having difficulty fixing it as the pipe is encased in concrete.

Commuters trying to get home faced very long delays on Wednesday evening.

This is the official TfL message - from the part of their website which highlights current works http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/later.html

Central Line:  Suspended between Leytonstone and Bethnal Green due to a burst water main causing flooding at Stratford. Rail replacement buses operate. Severe delays are occurring on the rest of the line.

London Underground tickets are valid on London Buses, Greater Anglia and First Great Western.

Replacement buses operate between Mile End and Leytonstone via Stratford and between Stratford and Leytonstone via Leyton.
Replan your journey

This is the report from London 24 - Delays for commuters after Stratford station flooded

Nigel Holness, from London Underground, said the suspension was likely to be in place for some time.
He said: “Customers are advised in the meantime to use alternative routes to complete their journeys and check the TfL website for up to the minute travel information.”

A Thames Water spokesman said: “We are currently working really hard to repair a pipe that has burst in Wick Lane causing disruption to the Central Line.
“The burst happened on a 24-inch pipe which was under going planned work to fix a leak. This pipe is encased in concrete making the work particularly tricky. We’re really sorry for the disruption this is causing.”

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Thames Water: 24" burst water main affecting East London

At lunchtime today a 24" water main belonging to Thames Water burst in Wick Lane near the Olympic Park. As a result most of East London is without tap water.

• The burst water main flooded the Central Line in the Mile End Area - which led to the suspension of all services between Bethnal Green and Leytonstone (BBC Tube suspended on Central Line due to burst pipe).  Passengers had to be led off the trains in the tunnel.
• We know that some properties within the Mile End area were affected and were without water for some hours.
• To date there is no timescale for the water coming back on re all properties affected - although properties in Mile End now seem to have water again

The last time this happened, properties were without water for several hours.  Those in tower blocks had to wait longer to get their water back as RSLs were not making a pump restart a priority.

Current Update 5:05pm

Yet again we have to report that Thames Water is not on top of its communication with its customers.

#1:  This is the current message on the Thames Water website.  It was not updated by the time indicated

E3: Burst water main
Message last updated: Wednesday 6 June - 1.32pm.
Impact on customers

Customers in E3 may be without water. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Current status

We are currently investigating the problem and will provide a time when we think it will be fixed as soon as possible.

Next message update

4.55pm on Wednesday 6 June.

#2  This is the map of Live Problems on the Thames Water website.  The area outlined on the map is much smaller than the area actually affected - as per the chap on the phone at Thames Water.

#3  Thames water has yet to learn how to use Twitter effectively to keep residents updated about what is going on.  This is its Twitter account https://twitter.com/#!/thameswater. It took a direct tweet by MERA to get a response and update from Thames Water! If you are still affected and have a Twitter account we suggest you tweet asking them when you'll get your water back.

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A prompt response from Tower Hamlets Street Works

MERA has had two responses to the blog posts and emails sent to various council officers, councillors and Optimise

• On Friday, MERA received an email and photos (see below) from a Tower Hamlets Street Works Officer following the despatch of emails to various parties within LB Tower Hamlets
• On Thursday we got an acknowledgement of our email from Optimise - but no proper response to date.

We're grateful for the prompt response -  but have some issues we still want to pursue.  Read the Street Works email and our comments below.

Brokesley Street 16.45pm (after the contractors had gone home)
- the work is still not complete,
the road has not been cleaned to remove soil debris as required by the planning conditions
Street Works photo

Footpath Closed - but does this have a current permit?
Street Works Photo 26 January 2012

Hello Mile End Residents, following the receipt of your concerns and complaints yesterday I visited Brokesley St and took the attached photos.

These are TW-Optimise works - being undertaken by the section known as 'Developer Services', carried out by a Statutory Undertaker under the terms and conditions of NRSWA - New Roads and Streetworks Act.

As a Statutory Undertaker TW have the right to place and maintain apparatus within the Highway - and under their governing body, OFWAT, have the duty to maintain this supply, and also the duty to respond to a reasonable request for a supply connection.

These works are however monitored generally by the Highways Authority and subject to the Codes of Practise. These codes require the Undertaker to Notice these works, carry them out to a standard of reinstatement and again generally to complete works without undue delay, minimise disruption to road users, and where the access to a frontage is affected to allow for consultation before works start, (unless works are deemed to be 'Emergency' or 'Urgent').

Following discussion with Optimise personnel I understand these works were to have been carried out without closing the road formally and best maintain access for residents by suspending Parking Bays. To minimise the time on site the JCB 'Digger' was used where possible, the gang being aware of the need to maintain Emergency Service access at all times and able to move this vehicle if required.

It does appear that works were carried out after the formal Bay Suspensions were removed and this is a matter that will be discussed with Optimise to establish what went wrong here and how they propose to avoid a repeat in future.

We will continue to be aware of these works and the potential to cause concern to residents and the works will be monitored for any failing with regard to the specification following reinstatement.

Please let me know if you have any comments, and if you have further concerns regarding future Statutory Undertakers works in Brokesley St do not hesitate to contact the Streetworks section - if you can attach photos it does help, thanks, regards, CNH.

Charlie Harrison
Street Works Officer
CLC Streetworks
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
e-mail charlie.harrison@towerhamlets.gov.uk

The officer does not address:

• the planning conditions relating to no access/no parking allowed by vehicles associated with construction (as these are - even if they are a utility company)
• the parking of vehicles on double yellow lines as indicated in previous posts (which as the Council's own policy highlights cannot be suspended)
• the parking of vehicles within suspended parking bays - not allowed as per the Council's own policy (ie the bays were suspended for access not for use by vehicles working on site)
• the lack of consultation with residents about how the works were to be conducted and the potential for the road to be completely obstructed 
• the inconvenience caused to residents by works taking place AFTER the parking bay suspension finished.  He recognises that requires further enquiry.

The Works are not Complete - but have no completion date
No permit number displayed re pavement closure
How does this comply with the Code of Practice? 
Compare to photo (below) of sign as at 26 January 2012 8.47am 
(Street works photo)

Optimise Notice photographed 26 January 2012 8.47am
Stated Completion date 27 January 2012
Permit Number 74YSYF

In addition three more matters not previously raised will also be pursued 

1. the fact that the Optimise Notice now has no permit number and no completion date despite the fact the pavement is still closed (which was not the case prior to the works)
2. the absence of any Notice of the Council order to close the pavement (Should it be closed at all?  When will it be open again?)
3. the failure to mark the Optimise road works in the manner as required by the planning permission / Code of Practice (no lights at night earlier in the week when they were in the road, fences fell over on a regular basis)

We're also still wondering why none of the irregularities in relation to parking bay suspensions and parking on double yellow lines got picked up by the parking wardens.


We'll be corresponding further to ensure there are no further repercussions of this serious disregard of the interests of local residents and the contractor's breaches of the law and the Council's own policy on parking suspensions.

To date MERA has not received any acknowledgement or reply from any of the Ward Councillors or Development Control.

DO PLEASE TAKE PHOTOS / EMAIL TO MERA

IF YOU SEE ANY OTHER WORKS CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS

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Suspension of Parking in Tower Hamlets - Policy and Rules

Highway Maintenance - parked on yellow lines
following several days of water works in 
Brokesley Street 26 January 2012
(There is no notice of suspension and no dispensation in force
and planning conditions prevent access by construction vehicles)

MERA has been looking up Tower Hamlet Council's Policy on Parking and Traffic Enforcement.

For the benefit of residents in the Mile End Area and all those who seek suspensions of parking bays we've reproduced the section relevant to the suspension of parking bays in this blog post.  (It starts on page 40 of the document which you can access by clicking this link)

We've highlighted the parts of most interest to local residents.
__________________________________________

This section reviews -

• The exemptions included in the Council's Traffic Management Orders (parking and moving traffic)

• The availability of dispensations from the waiting and loading restrictions

• The ability to suspend certain parking regulations

Suspensions, dispensations and exemptions all seem very similar, but in parking they have quite specific meanings and uses, not only in relation to CPZs but more generally (and they are not the same as permits, which are explained in Section 5)

Suspensions


Having introduced (or "designated") a permitted parking place (permit holder, shared use, pay and display, doctor, disabled, etc.), it may be necessary to suspend it for a short time. (If the parking place is no longer required, or it is deemed that it would be better utilised for another purpose, it should be revoked. A Traffic Management Order is required to revoke a designated parking place).

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the Council will only suspend a designated parking place in the following circumstances:-

a) to facilitate maintenance and repairs to the highway
b) to facilitate maintenance and repairs to services (gas, water,
electric, telecoms etc.) buried within the highway
c) business or domestic removal
d) building works
e) filming
f) at the request of the Police (events and public safety)

Anyone can request the suspension of a parking place (or part of a parking place), provided it is for one of the reasons stated above. The suspension is provided to help carry out a task or event but clearly causes inconvenience to those motorists who are then not permitted to use the parking place; and in extreme circumstances a long-term suspension (for example, to facilitate a major redevelopment) can impact on the viability of a small business.

To minimise the inconvenience caused by suspensions the Council will:-
a) only grant a suspension when absolutely necessary
b) restrict the suspension to the minimum space required to perform the task or carry out the event
c) restrict the duration of the suspension to the shortest possible amount of time ) consider the size of suspension in conjunction with the duration (i.e. a long term suspension is more acceptable if only a short
length of kerb is taken)
e) normally make a charge for each suspension based on number of bays/number of days plus administration charge, to encourage the speedy return of the parking place to its designated use. (These charges are reviewed annually and a “parking bay” is defined as 6 metres in length)
f) where there is a choice (and usually there is not), choose to suspend "pay and display only" bays rather than "permit holder only" or "shared use" bays
g) ensure that suspensions are correctly and clearly signed
h) monitor suspensions to ensure they are removed when no longer required

Generally, no more than ten car parking spaces will be approved per day for a suspension.

For a domestic removal a total of three car spaces only will be suspended (approximately 18 metres) and there is no charge for this type of suspension. If the applicant considers this to be insufficient space, additional space may be agreed and the normal suspension charges will apply.

Applications for suspensions should be made no later than five days in advance as the Council will give at least three days advance notice of the suspension for the benefit of residents in the area. However, this is not always possible as emergencies will require priority suspensions and the Council will be unable to give advance warning. Residents are advised to check that there are no suspensions in place on a daily basis if they are leaving their car in a permit or multi use bay.

All documents supplied to holders of permits issued by the Council will include advice to the holders of the need to check their vehicle every day and to ask a neighbour, friend or relative to do this for them if they go away for any length of time, leaving their car in a designated on-street parking bay (that might have to be suspended). All designated parking bays in the Borough might be suspended at some time.

Enforcement action will be taken against any unauthorised vehicle parked in a suspended bay, even if it is displaying a resident permit. Some residents believe that if a bay has been suspended for their use, to facilitate a house removal for example, they may park their own vehicle in the bay if it is not being used by the removal vehicle. This is not the case as a suspension is authorised for a specific purpose and may only be used by the vehicle engaged in that purpose.

Any vehicle parked in a suspended parking place will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and authorised for removal to the Council's car pound. Removal is appropriate because the parking bay is required for another use during the period it is suspended

It is also important to note that a suspension is actually in force at any time, even if the bay would normally be in force during a shorter period. Where times are specified on the suspension notice this will not be the case, but if there are no times shown, enforcement action may be taken at any time during a 24 hour period.

A vehicle displaying a disabled person's parking exemption, parked in a suspended parking place, will be ticketed (PCN) and relocated to the nearest safe parking place.

There are occasions when suspensions are introduced without warning (usually urgent repairs to underground services). Any vehicle that is illegally parked in the bay at the time the suspension comes into effect will be ticketed and removed to the car pound. Any legally parked vehicle will also be ticketed (this creates a unique reference number for the enforcement action) and whenever possible be relocated. The Penalty Charge Notice will be subsequently cancelled.

Where a suspension is required for such a considerable time that the Council must reconsider whether the parking place should be re-designated (as it becomes apparent that the carriageway in question is again required for the passing of vehicles), it becomes inappropriate to levy a daily charge to encourage the early return of the parking bay since this is actually outside the control of the contractor/utility company.

We are committed to giving residents and other drivers as much notice of the suspension as possible, ensuring that the signs indicating that a suspension is in place are clear and give full details of the duration, location and nature of the suspension, to regular checking of suspensions and prompt removal when they are no longer required.

There are three further key points to parking suspensions:-
a) It is not possible to suspend a parking place to permit parking, e.g. the Council can suspend a parking place so that a wedding car can wait for the bride (or groom), but will not suspend a parking place so that guests can come to the celebrations after the wedding.
b) The suspension process can be open to abuse, e.g. a builder may request the suspension of a parking place to assist with delivery of materials to the site, and then use the suspended area to park his own van. Suspensions therefore need to be properly monitored and the Council will issue PCNs in these circumstances.
c) It is not possible to suspend a waiting restriction (yellow line) or waiting and loading restriction (yellow line and kerb blips). If this is what is (in effect) required, then it may be appropriate to grant a "dispensation".

Construction vehicle related to
Telford Homes Development and Thames Water Works in
Brokesley Street on 26 January 2012 (1.49pm)

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RESULT! Brokesley Street open again

Following this morning's blog post and various reports to the "powers that be" (see Optimise continue to ignore regulations in Brokesley Street), cars are now able to park again in the "suspended parking bays" at the top of Brokesley Street.

That's because the bays were NOT suspended for the 25-26 January 2012.

Brokesley Street 2pm 26 January 2012

The reality is that Thames Water - via its agent Optimise - OBSTRUCTED the street for two days without the necessary authority. 

There was no emergency which necessitated this obstruction.  These are planned works for a new housing development project - managed by Telford Homes - and as such should have been completed within the time allotted ie within the time allowed by the permits.

However the parking bays were rendered inaccessible by the fencing in the road and the works by Thames Water and its agents which took far too long to be completed.  Difficulties were caused for residents trying to get in or out of the street and delivery vans got stuck while trying to make deliveries.  Deliveries were taking place because of course there should have been no obstruction in the street!

Proper permits for suspending parking should have been in place at all times if required - but neither the developers Telford Homes nor the utility company Thames Water, nor their agenct Optimise made sure this happened.

Proper notice should also have been given to householders - but this did not happen.

Despite overhearing a contractor this morning stating that the fencing would be moved at the end of today, by midday the fencing had been moved back to the pavement - but not before it had succeeded in blocking a very large van making a delivery to the street.

We will now wait to hear from the Council what actions they will be taking for the fact that the road was obstructed without permit and construction vehicles are still parked in the street - on double yellow lines - which are not suspended!

Construction vehicle NJ57 GDF - parked on yellow lines in Brokesley Street

This vehicle has been reported to Tower Hamlets Parking and Transport for London - as will all construction vehicles which are parked in the road.  The place for parking is the Approved Access Route to Site 10 - via the old St Clements Hospital site

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Optimise continue to ignore regulations in Brokesley Street

Thames Water's contractors Optimise (which combines contractors Clancey Docwra and J Murphy and Sons) are currently breaching:

• the suspension of parking in Brokesley Street which was limited to 23-24 January 2012
• the ban on construction traffic in Brokesley Street as per the planning conditions for the development on Site 10 (1 - 14 Brokesley Street).

It's worth repeating - that says "No Construction Traffic in Brokesley Street"

Roadworks are complete - so why is the fencing still there?

Where is the parking control notice
for 25-26 January 2012?

This follows on from the post on Monday when access to the street was blocked by contractors vehciles - see Clancey Docwra block Brokesley Street to emergency vehicles

The photographs in this post were taken just before 9am this morning.

The road should be clear of all fencing - because the holes in the road were completed yesterday.  There is now no reason for fencing to be protecting the area of road they have been working on.  

The other reason the fencing should not be there is because cars are now allowed to park on the other side of the street according to the suspended parking notice!

There are works to do to the pavement but:

• they do not require the fencing which remains and 
• if they do - then they need to apply for an extension of the parking suspension

The road should also be clear of all construction and contractors vehicles - as per the planning conditions - but it is not.  

• There is a lorry parked at the top of the street 
• an Elm Surfacing Van (Transit Connect - Vehicle Reg. HK57 FLC) - which is parked within the "suspended parking area".  Which means it's definitely breaching parking controls as it has neither a permit if the parking is not suspended and it's parked in an area of suspended parking (ie required for access in and out of the street) if the controls are still in force.

Our understanding is that the suspended parking bays are not suspended unless there is a clear notice and the area is marked on the pavement.

Elm Surfacing Van Reg. No HK47 FLC
reported to parking control and TfL

Brokesley Street has had a series of suspended parking bays - ostensibly for works - when nobody has turned up and nothing has happened.

We now have work occurring which ignores both the planning conditions and the parking controls.  This is completely unsatisfactory.

Luke, the Telford Homes Project Manager, knows all about this as he was present on site this morning when we arrived to take photographs.  He disappeared very rapidly from the scene as the camera appeared.  We wonder why.........

Reports of the very poor management of these utility/road works by Thames Water, Optimise and Telford Homes are being lodged by MERA with:

• Transport for London - the Reportit website for reporting unauthorised or badly managed road works.  
• FixMyStreet - which we have found works very well as it records on a website things which need fixing fast.

You can also send in your own reports.

UPDATE: Click on image to read report filed 10am on 26 January 2012

MERA will also be sending emails again to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Parking Control and Development Control)

This is the standard which Thames Water SHOULD be working to - over and above the requirements re planning conditions and parking controls.  

The Mayor of London's Roadworks Pledge

Roadworks should...

• Be tidy and safe with a clutter-free site so it is safe for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users
• Always explain what's happening through detailed, clear and consistent signage
• Always have activity on site or, if not, explain why (e.g. concrete is drying)
• Take up as little road/pavement space as possiblewith a compact working area and eliminating the unnecessary use of cones, safety barriers and storage of materials
• Help keep London moving by working outside peak hours, re-opening the road to traffic at peak times and, where this is not possible, working 24/7 or extended hours to complete works as quickly as possible. Diversion routes should be clearly signed

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