Leak from manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane
Monday, 24 June 2019:
A Thames Water officer who came to look at the manhole contacted the TW office to get an update and was advised that a maintenance team (Lanes Contractors) would be coming that same night to attempt to clear the surface water drain and to investigate. Because this would involve one of their larger vehicles, the road between the entrance to the private road JSL North (where there is a similar manhole, through which jetting hoses would be inserted - marked by TW with a yellow arrow) and 69 JSL (location of problem manhole) would be blocked during this work. Consequently the work would have to take place sometime around 8 pm to 10 pm so as not to disrupt traffic at busy times and it would cause quite a lot of noise. The job number for this work was 001238 PYZY. The blockage was cleared.
On this occasion an explanation was found for the confusion that arose on 27 December 2017 when a Lanes Group Plc engineer consulted a map on his laptop showing manholes for which TW are responsible, found no record of this manhole by No. 69 and therefore said it was the responsibility of the Highways Authority (the County Council). The TW officer who attended on 24 June 2019 could find no indication of a surface water drain on the map on his laptop either. However, when he called the TW office, he was told that the map available there did, indeed, show a surface water drain in Jack Straw's Lane and the manhole in question.
18 June 2019 - manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane: Thames Water were informed of the problem on 17 June and today gave assurance that an investigation had been put in hand and information on the results would be provided by 1 July at the latest.
Contrary to the notification from Oxford City Council's Direct Services, the problem with the manhole by No. 69 was not resolved in November 2018 (see below). The problem had begun again during the winter of 2018-2019, with the road surface suffering continuing damage from the leaking water after heavy rain.
A Thames Water officer who came to look at the manhole contacted the TW office to get an update and was advised that a maintenance team (Lanes Contractors) would be coming that same night to attempt to clear the surface water drain and to investigate. Because this would involve one of their larger vehicles, the road between the entrance to the private road JSL North (where there is a similar manhole, through which jetting hoses would be inserted - marked by TW with a yellow arrow) and 69 JSL (location of problem manhole) would be blocked during this work. Consequently the work would have to take place sometime around 8 pm to 10 pm so as not to disrupt traffic at busy times and it would cause quite a lot of noise. The job number for this work was 001238 PYZY. The blockage was cleared.
On this occasion an explanation was found for the confusion that arose on 27 December 2017 when a Lanes Group Plc engineer consulted a map on his laptop showing manholes for which TW are responsible, found no record of this manhole by No. 69 and therefore said it was the responsibility of the Highways Authority (the County Council). The TW officer who attended on 24 June 2019 could find no indication of a surface water drain on the map on his laptop either. However, when he called the TW office, he was told that the map available there did, indeed, show a surface water drain in Jack Straw's Lane and the manhole in question.
18 June 2019 - manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane: Thames Water were informed of the problem on 17 June and today gave assurance that an investigation had been put in hand and information on the results would be provided by 1 July at the latest.
Contrary to the notification from Oxford City Council's Direct Services, the problem with the manhole by No. 69 was not resolved in November 2018 (see below). The problem had begun again during the winter of 2018-2019, with the road surface suffering continuing damage from the leaking water after heavy rain.
8 June 2019 - below: photo of manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane and video of leaking water
21 November 2018 - manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane
Oxford City Council's Direct Services emailed the JSLA Chairman to report that the problem with the manhole by No. 69 had been resolved; a blockage had been cleared. If there are any further problems with this manhole, the reference number to quote when contacting Thames Water is Lanes (the contractor) job number 001238 NFXG. There is also a Thames Water ref. number 001238 NHRV.
6 November 2018 - manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane
The JSLA Chairman, David Oughton, emailed Oxford City Council's Highways Department reminding them that the problem with the manhole by No. 69 Jack Straw's Lane remained unresolved. The City Council responded the following day - click here
Oxford City Council's Direct Services emailed the JSLA Chairman to report that the problem with the manhole by No. 69 had been resolved; a blockage had been cleared. If there are any further problems with this manhole, the reference number to quote when contacting Thames Water is Lanes (the contractor) job number 001238 NFXG. There is also a Thames Water ref. number 001238 NHRV.
6 November 2018 - manhole by 69 Jack Straw's Lane
The JSLA Chairman, David Oughton, emailed Oxford City Council's Highways Department reminding them that the problem with the manhole by No. 69 Jack Straw's Lane remained unresolved. The City Council responded the following day - click here
12 May 2018
During moderate rain, water was spouting from the cover of the manhole by No. 69, indicating a blockage in the gully. (Water continues to flow from this manhole cover after rain has stopped.) This ongoing problem continues to erode the road surface. See video
During moderate rain, water was spouting from the cover of the manhole by No. 69, indicating a blockage in the gully. (Water continues to flow from this manhole cover after rain has stopped.) This ongoing problem continues to erode the road surface. See video
24 March 2018 leak from manhole by No. 69
During this week a City Council maintenance team jetted the gullies in the Lane. A team member said that a Council driver had noticed the continuing leak from the manhole a few days before and that he would report the ongoing problem. He said that Thames Water had been to clean the chamber but that had not solved the problem
During this week a City Council maintenance team jetted the gullies in the Lane. A team member said that a Council driver had noticed the continuing leak from the manhole a few days before and that he would report the ongoing problem. He said that Thames Water had been to clean the chamber but that had not solved the problem
On 3 January 2018 an Oxford City Council jetting team found that the chamber below the manhole by No. 69 was full of silt. Mr David Tidball (City Council) reported this the same day to Thames Water , who said someone would attend within 8 hrs to investigate. TW did send someone along promptly and a yellow arrow was sprayed on the road surface, presumably indicating work to be done. On 3 March 2018 the water was still leaking from the manhole.
2 Jan 2018: Following information provided by a Lanes Group Plc engineer on 27 December 2017 (see below) this leak was reported to Oxfordshire County Council's Highways Department, logged by them on Fix My Street (Ref. 1171566) and subsequently forwarded to the City Council. A very swift response was received from Oxford City Council's David Tidball (Highways and Engineering, Direct Services) and the same day a City Council jetting team investigated the problem. (Mr Tidball confirmed that the City Council was responsible only for the maintenance of the surface water gullies and pipes to the main surface water drainage system, not the surface water drainage system itself, which is the responsibility of Thames Water.)
Mr Tidball's update on 3 Jan 2018 was that water was running in the gullies, but possibly slowly, He believed this was due to the main surface water drain (maintained by Thames Water) being silted up.
The City Council jetting team noticed that this manhole cover to the surface water chamber was not seated correctly and was rocking, so they lifted it and cleaned out the frame. While doing this they found the chamber was full of silt (photo on left taken by jetting team). Mr Tidball reported this the same day to Thames Water, who said someone would attend within 8 hrs to investigate.
The City Council jetting team noticed that this manhole cover to the surface water chamber was not seated correctly and was rocking, so they lifted it and cleaned out the frame. While doing this they found the chamber was full of silt (photo on left taken by jetting team). Mr Tidball reported this the same day to Thames Water, who said someone would attend within 8 hrs to investigate.
By early 2017 a tarmac patch had been applied to the hole beside the manhole cover but the road surface at the edge had not been repaired (photos above, left and centre - click here for a larger photo). By December 2017 following further erosion of the road surface a much larger patch had been applied across all the damaged surface (photo above right) but water was still leaking from the manhole cover after rain and consequently erosion of the road surface was continuing. On 27 December while the Lanes Group Plc engineers were in the Lane for other work (re No. 22) they were told about the problem with continuing leakage after rain from this (video 27 Dec 2017). An engineer consulted a map indicating manholes for which Thames Water are responsible. This manhole was not shown. The engineer said it was thus the responsibility of the Highways Authority (the County Council). It isn't - see entry for 3 January 2018 and, for an explanation of the confusion, 24 June 2019.
22 Nov 2016
Reports of water gushing from this manhole by No. 69 Jack Straw's Lane following heavy rain. Photo taken on 14 July 2016 shows how continuing leakage of water had already caused erosion of the road surface, for further photos click here.
Reports of water gushing from this manhole by No. 69 Jack Straw's Lane following heavy rain. Photo taken on 14 July 2016 shows how continuing leakage of water had already caused erosion of the road surface, for further photos click here.
18 October 2014
Cracks had appeared in the Imprint surface around the manhole by No. 69.
The blockage that occurred here in January 2014 (see photo below showing location) was cleared but since then the problem has reoccurred sporadically (after heavy rain).
Cracks had appeared in the Imprint surface around the manhole by No. 69.
The blockage that occurred here in January 2014 (see photo below showing location) was cleared but since then the problem has reoccurred sporadically (after heavy rain).
7 January 2014
Water was emerging from around a manhole cover by 69 Jack Straw's Lane some time after heavy rain had stopped.: see video