Severn Trent water leak cost us £600,000, says turf farmer

The field as it looked when it was producing turf © Talbot Turf

A turf farmer has accused one of Britain’s biggest water companies of failing to take action to repair a major water leak on his land.

Sean Goodwin, a director of Talbot Turf, a turf producer based near Derby, said a 4ha field at Allestree has been out of production since August 2020 following a long-running dispute with Severn Trent Water.

Mr Goodwin said an underground water culvert, which dates back to the Victorian era, burst and, since then, the area of the field has been unsuitable to grow turf.

See also: Analysis: What is being done to secure water resources for UK farmers?

Severn Trent Water carried out repairs to the pipe back in March 2021, but Mr Goodwin said it failed in its obligation to reinstate the land correctly so that it could be returned back into production.

“Our inability to have this 4ha area as part of our turf production cycle is having a significant effect and causing financial loss to our company,” said Mr Goodwin.

“It is also causing serious frustration and stress to company employees. We believe Severn Trent Water failed in its statutory obligation to compensate us to enable us to return that field back into production.”

Mr Goodwin said the Water Industries Act clearly states the statutory obligation that is required by landowners and water companies to protect all individuals, but also includes a code of practice which facilitates land reinstatement to take place.

But he accused Severn Trent Water of having a “total disregard” for the Act and failing to follow its own code of practice to reinstate the land following the repair.

Mr Goodwin estimates the dispute has cost his company in excess of £600,000 due to the water company’s inaction and the loss of revenue.

“The longer this field is out of production, the longer this field is unable to generate any money and, therefore, our company’s costs continue to increase,” he said.

Talbot Turf has been growing turf for more than 35 years and the company prides itself on its exceptional customer service and producing quality turf for the landscape industry, the general public, local authorities and the UK sports industry.

It has previously supplied turf for use in the Millennium Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby and football in Cardiff.

Half-a-billion profits 

Severn Trent Water is the UK’s second-biggest water company serving 4.3 million customers in England and Wales. The company recorded profits before tax and interest of £508.8m in the financial year to March 2022, up from £506.2m the year before.

“Our case is just a drop in the ocean for Severn Trent Water and we can see no reason, financially or otherwise, why they have failed in their obligation to pay us our statutory compensation,” Mr Goodwin added.

A spokesperson for Severn Trent Water said: “Those involved are working to reach a resolution and as this is ongoing, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment at this stage.”