AN entire stretch of water pipe running through Normandy Crescent is to be replaced by Thames Water.

The pipe burst on September 23 and caused significant flooding in the estate for the second time in seven years.

Floodwaters hit 15 houses and eight flats and cut off another 27 homes from the water supply.

In a letter sent to residents today Thames Water said it will install at least 1.5km of pipe.

The company said it will also install leak-monitoring equipment on the new Cowley main which it hopes will stop a repeat of the flooding.

Head of strategy Rob Keen will meet with residents at St Francis Church of England School on February 10 to explain the work and present the findings of an independent investigation into the cause of the flooding.

He said: “What happened in Normandy Crescent was horrendous, and I personally apologise.

“Having considered all the options, I'm confident that replacing the pipe and installing monitoring kit is the most effective way of reducing the risk of anything like this ever happening again.

"Before this work starts, however, residents quite understandably want to know why the pipe burst and flooded their homes, and that is why I have agreed to meet and talk through the independent investigation results clearly and openly."

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