Horley Water Crisis: MP Demands Answers on Vulnerable Residents
What Happened: A Sunday Without Water Across Horley
Residents across Horley woke to a significant problem on Sunday morning when a power failure at SES Water's Bough Beech Water Treatment Works left thousands without running water. The outage, which also affected Gatwick Airport and surrounding communities, began around 09:30 when water pressure plummeted to unusable levels. For many households, basic tasks became impossible—washing dishes, showering, and preparing meals ground to a halt. The disruption stretched across several hours, creating genuine hardship for families who depend on reliable utilities. Local resident Alan Boughen described the situation starkly: “You couldn't do the washing up or take a shower.” What made this crisis particularly concerning wasn't just the inconvenience for able-bodied residents, but the vulnerability it exposed for elderly and elderly neighbours who couldn't fend for themselves. The outage highlighted how dependent our daily routines—from basic hygiene to maintaining home conditions necessary for bathroom refurbishment projects—are on consistent water supply. For those managing properties or planning renovations with bathroom fitters, the incident served as a stark reminder of infrastructure fragility in our area.
Priority Services Register Failures Raise Serious Questions
MP Chris Coghlan has launched an investigation into how SES Water handled communications during the crisis, particularly regarding vulnerable residents on the Priority Services Register. This register identifies customers who need additional support during service disruptions—elderly residents, those with disabilities, and households with young children. According to reports reaching the MP's office, several registered customers received no notification about bottled water deliveries, leaving them stranded without access to drinking water or supplies for essential daily needs. One resident spent hours attempting to reach customer support by phone, only to be disconnected while waiting for assistance. These failures are not merely inconvenient; they represent a breach of duty to some of Horley's most vulnerable community members. The MP has formally written to SES Water demanding clarity on how the company identifies and contacts at-risk customers, whether Priority Services Register members were actually reached, and whether emergency contingency plans functioned as designed. The local authority and water company must ensure that systems protect those least able to cope with infrastructure failures. Community spirit partially filled the gap—neighbours rallied to deliver water to isolated older residents—but this should never substitute for proper corporate responsibility.
Community Response and What Happens Next
While SES Water's official response fell short, Horley's community demonstrated the resilience that defines this neighbourhood. Residents didn't wait for corporate solutions; they organized among themselves, identifying vulnerable older residents and ensuring they had bottled water and support. This neighbourly response echoes the kind of cooperation that makes areas like ours function, but it also exposes the gap between what residents are expected to do and what service providers should guarantee. SES Water has stated it is reviewing its response procedures and acknowledged the seriousness of power disruptions affecting its network. However, words must translate into concrete improvements. Local residents should monitor developments closely and report any ongoing concerns to their MP Chris Coghlan, who represents both Dorking and Horley. For those planning home improvements—including bathroom refurbishment projects that require reliable water supply—this incident underscores the importance of checking infrastructure reliability. Homeowners engaging bathroom fitters should ensure projects are scheduled with confidence in utility provision. Going forward, SES Water must demonstrate that its Priority Services Register operates effectively, communication protocols are robust, and contingency plans protect those most at risk. The company's reputation in our community depends on proving this crisis was an anomaly, not a pattern.
Source: Horley MP Chris Coghlan seeks answers after SES Water outage
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