Plymouth mum with 15-week-old baby left without water after repair blunder
A MOTHER of a 15-week-old baby was left without water for 25 hours after repairs on her home went wrong.
Gail Falsafi and her four children, 15-week old Cherry, 2-year-old Luca, Lola, 6, and Amy, 18, were left without a working toilet, shower or sink when water had to be turned off in their flat in Lipstone crescent, Lipson.
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Gail Falsafi with her children Cherry, 15, weeks, Lola, 6, Amy, 18, and Luca, 2, who were left without water for 25 hours
Gail was told by housing provider Plymouth Community Homes that she could be without water for 48 hours as her case wasn't classed as an emergency.
Gail said: "They turned the stop cock off to the sink and blew a valve in the flat beneath. It was the only way they could stop the flooding.
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"The water was turned off at 11am.
"I have four children, the youngest is 15 weeks and I need to sterilise bottles but a housing officer at Plymouth Community Homes said it wasn't classed as an emergency so wouldn't rehouse me overnight.
"A plumber came to connect my supply to the neighbours through a vent but they stopped him from doing it because they wouldn't pay his overtime, and they wouldn't let the out of hours team do it because they said it wasn't an emergency.
"I have got my whole kitchen in my front room; the kitchen is a shell and I have no toilet and no bathroom because of the water being off. It's a joke."
Gail spent over a day without water before her supply was connected to her next-door neighbours.
She added: "I have to wait over two weeks until they fix the fault properly and I went for 39 hours without sleep because of the stress.
"I was told South West Water would never have left me like that. "Due to my complaints they are doing everything in their power to get the job done. It's gone right up to the chief executive and they are desperately trying to keep me happy.
"The service I have received from the workmen and management since has been great, especially Martin Thompson and Dave Bamber.
"I'll give credit where its due; it seems to be behind the scenes where the problem lies."
Plymouth Community Homes manage the flat in Lipstone Crescent.
Ian Frazer, Head of Building and Technical Services for Plymouth Community Homes, said: "We made safe the leak and ensured Mrs Falsafi had access to water overnight from a neighbour's flat.
"We also arranged for the family to be reimbursed for provisions they had to buy which they have taken us up on.
"We returned as a priority at 8am the next morning to install a supply from a different water main.
"The supply was damaged due to problems in a neighbouring flat which we do not own. We are now talking to the resident of that flat to sort out the problem permanently."
46 Comments
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by lvplymouth
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 2:54PM
“theres a lot of people on here need to be ashamed of themselves.who are these 'strange' ,nasty people making these disgusting comments.you are attacking a mother,with children who all look clean, healthy, well looked after and happy. nobody knows her personal circumstances ,therefore no one has the right to judge. and like she says young people cant afford the luxury of buying their own home anymore .”
by devonguy7
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 9:00AM
“And of course, our tax will be paying for this!”
by amyandlola
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:55PM
“Apologies jack that was my fault and it won't let me change it. The company have currently been shut down until theyfinish all current work! Its a complete shambles!”
by jackplane
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:50PM
“why thumbs down for my comment pch cost a lot of people there jobs ,yes people went to work for the new firms but all thay r interested in is profit, set to short a time to do the work as i said before we did the work in two weeks with no loss of water and cooking overnight during the works and have records to prove it”
by amyandlola
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:35PM
“Ahhh because of course none of you would EVER complain about anything.who says I dont pay?? Far too quick to judge and no doubt if I was still in private accomodation paying my rent you'd still be judging! Oh and no I think a story innthe herald is a far cry from celebrity, such sad oeopke to even contemplate such an idiotic idea.”
by OscarDelta
Monday, February 25 2013, 8:01PM
“Chavtastic!!! Jeremy Kyle eat your heart out!”
by flowcur
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:41PM
“Did you know that there is actually people out there with children .Who have to rent or buy their own property and they don't get free kitchen/bathroom refurbishments...............(They pay for it by their hard earned money) .......And get this .............
Also by some magic they manage to live with the hardship of broken facilities for days ....................................”
by Melchard
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:23PM
“You obviously are enjoying all the attention amyandlola.
Heady stuff being a celebrity in Plymouth eh.
Fancy not having water for 24 hours, you poor girl. I have emailed Mr Cameron to demand that you are immediately re housed, get a water rebate and a cash payout as compensation.”
by amyandlola
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:20PM
“@kar99 I think I've been rather ladylike compared to some of these people and I have very good friends thank you who would never dream of abusing people as you herald Gestapo have.I have more decorum and integrity in my little finger than many of the vike people making judgements here”
by amyandlola
Monday, February 25 2013, 7:12PM
“Sorry meant to up rate that comment oops. You're totally right and its such a farce ive even banned the site manager rrom entering my prooerty. If only these idiits knew the full extent of issues, they certainly wouldn't accept it!”