A burst water main shut a busy road near Swindon on Saturday morning, 4 October, after water began rising across the carriageway and flowing into nearby gutters faster than anyone could say 'low water pressure'. Thames Water engineers were called to the scene and the road was closed in both directions while repairs got under way.
The burst also affected water supply to homes in the surrounding area, with residents warned they may experience low pressure or interruptions while the main is fixed. A Thames Water spokesperson said crews were working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, though no firm timescale for reopening the road was given, which locals have correctly interpreted as code for 'sometime before Christmas, probably'.
By mid morning the flooded stretch had accumulated enough standing water that several passers by reportedly mistook it for a new feature of the town's drainage masterplan. A council spokesperson confirmed this was not the case, and that the road was simply very wet.
"I'm not one to gossip," said Brenda Pask, 72, of Old Town, who has lived there since before it was old, "but I hear number fourteen's already put his kayak out, the one he bought for that holiday to the Norfolk Broads in 2009 and never used. In my day a burst main meant a man called Trevor with a spanner, not a water feature with its own reflection."
Gary Tench, Area Manager at Tench Paper Solutions in Westlea, said the closure had given him ideas for the business. "Unplanned disruption, zero notice, everyone just has to adapt on the fly, that's basically every Monday morning meeting I've ever run," he said. "I've actually suggested we flood the Westlea car park on a rota basis, just to keep the team sharp. Julie from accounts wasn't keen."
By early afternoon the water level had drawn a small crowd, several ducks, and at least one man attempting to photograph his reflection for what he called content. The road remained closed as repair teams continued work, with drivers advised to seek alternative routes and avoid paddling where possible.
Brenda, surveying the scene from a safe distance with a flask of tea, was unimpressed by the spectacle. "They'll be charging admission next," she said. "Ron always said the only water feature Swindon needed was a working tap. He'd have had something to say about this, mostly about his wellies, which are still in the shed, still too small for anybody."
By evening the road remained shut, the water had receded slightly, and the ducks, having assessed the site and found the footfall promising but the parking terrible, moved on.