FLOOD-HIT families have said they are no closer to getting answers about a promised meeting with Thames Water.

A water main burst in Normandy Crescent, in Cowley, on September 23 for the second time in seven years, devastating homes in the street.

However, eight weeks on residents said they still had not heard anything about getting the chance to quiz water bosses on developments.

But after the Oxford Mail approached Thames Water, the firm has said residents will hear from them in the next week.

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Mother-of-two Mandy Blessing, who had to move out of her home because of the flooding, said: “They should be setting up another meeting by now I would have thought, but still now there’s nothing.

“We are not any clearer in finding out anything. All they need to do is make contact. They don’t care. If they did care they would be contacting us.”

In a meeting six days after the flooding, Thames Water’s Government liaison officer Huw Thomas said the company would hold a session for questions when it had further information.

The company had been unable to take questions during a drop-in session at St Francis Primary School, in Horspath Road.

A council tenant in Normandy Crescent, mother-of-three Kara Hayes, 32, said: “There’s been no communication. If we did not make the effort no-one would bother with you.”

Families were left unable to stay in their properties, with some having to pay double council tax and utility bills after moving into temporary accommodation.

After calls from residents, arrangements between Thames Water and Oxford City Council were made to cover the costs.

Thames Water spokesman Stuart White said: “We’re planning to meet the residents once our investigation into the burst has finished.

“We’ll be writing to them with the details [of the meeting], including full information on the council tax arrangements, in the next week.

“The residents can contact us at all times if they require any further support during this extremely difficult period and we are happy to listen to any feedback to help improve communications.”

Thames Water’s investigation into the burst 24-inch cast iron pipe, which was expected to take at least six weeks, continues at Kempton Park Water Treatment Works.

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Kara Hayes in her flat just after the flood hit

A city council spokesman said: “We are in touch with all council tenants affected by the flooding and stand ready to assist them with any information and updates they might need from us or Thames Water.”

Pat Kennedy, city councillor for Lye Valley, said: “There’s no point having a meeting unless there is a report to discuss to move things forward because Thames Water and Oxford City Council want to get people back into their homes.

“If people do have an issue then they should be contacting Thames Water because it is their fault. It’s up to Thames Water to keep up the conversation.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “The important people here are the residents and it’s crucial that Thames Water or the council are responsive and helpful to their needs, given the trauma that they have had.

“I’ve had constituents contact me and mainly on issues involving Thames Water. All complaints I am getting from constituents, I am taking up with Thames Water or the council and doing my best to get them resolved.”

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