Water supply partially restored at fire-hit flats

Water supplies have been partially restored to a block of flats in Peterborough after fire damaged a communal tank - but many residents are still experiencing disruption.

About 300 residents at Varity House on Vicarage Farm Road were left without running water after a fire broke out in the building's bin store on 18 July.

A spokesperson for the management company IPM said they believed the blaze was caused by nitrous oxide canisters being ignited in the bin store.

Following the incident, IPM said insurers and loss adjusters acted quickly, arranging alternative accommodation for affected residents and carrying out an assessment of the damage.

Portable toilets have been installed outside the building and residents have been provided with bottled water while repairs continue.

However, some residents say conditions remain difficult.

Ryan Gilmore, who lives in the block with his partner, said: "Some floors have had water supply restored but it is abysmal pressure and no work to repair the fire damage or the water pump has started yet."

Last month, residents told the BBC they had been forced to choose between "drinking, cooking or cleaning ourselves" because of the lack of water.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said concerns were also growing over the portable toilets.

"Homeless people, who we know sleep rough near the building, are now using the portable loos placed in our car park," they said.

"This makes many people, especially women, feel unsafe to use them."

The company warned that the water supply could stop or have very low pressure at times, depending on demand and any repair work being carried out.

A spokesperson said: "The recent fire at Varity House was a terrible situation which occurred as a result of third parties.

"We acknowledge the disruption to people's lives but rest assured insurers and the loss adjusters are working hard to reinstate the building and water tank as quickly as they can."

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