Page 37 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1118

4 LondraGazete.com/English Londra Gazete, 11 August 2022

Thames Water plans to introduce

hosepipe ban ‘in weeks’

THAMES Water has said it is
planning to announce a hosepipe
ban in the coming weeks.
While the water company has
not revealed when exactly a ban
would come into force, the pub-
lic should expect it to start some
time soon and to affect the com-
pany's entire service area.
A Thames Water spokesperson
said: “Given the long-term fore-
cast of dry weather and another
forecast of very hot temperatures
coming this week, we are plan-
Londoners warned to brace for ning to announce a temporary
use ban in the coming weeks.
“We have written to the Envi-
further wildfires ronment Agency to update them
on our approach and informed
A Level Three heatwave alert has ditions – are prepared for coping Ofwat.
been issued for all of England as during the hot weather. “The timing is not confirmed
Londoners were warned to brace “The most important advice is due to a number of operation-
for further grass fires this week. to ensure they stay hydrated, keep al and legal procedural require- ly said it is “always sensible” for
In a statement on Monday, the cool and take steps to prevent their ments but we will be updating our use.” people to conserve water, when
customers, partners, regulators
UK Health Security Agency (HSA) homes from overheating.” and stakeholders at the earliest Thames Water's service area asked about the possibility of a
said that a level three alert would Londoners are being warned of time to ensure a co-ordinated ap- covers Berkshire, Buckingham- hosepipe ban for London.
be in place from midday Tuesday how quickly grass fires can develop proach. shire and Oxfordshire, as well as The Tory MP and minister for
to 6pm on Saturday August 13 and into a “ferocious blaze” as the cap- “In the meantime, we continue further afield in Hertfordshire, London was asked how likely it
apply to all regions of England. ital enters another heatwave amid to urge our customers to only use Hampshire and Greater London. is that Thames Water will impose
Last month, a Level Four alert drought-like conditions. what they need for their essential Government minister Paul Scul- such a ban.
was issued as temperatures soared London Fire Brigade is urging
to a record 41C in parts of the people to familiarise themselves
country. with the dangers of grass fires and
Dr Agostinho Sousa, the head how to prevent them. 650 children subjected to
of extreme events and health Grass fires often move quickly
protection at the HSA, said: “We and can be unpredicatable. They ‘traumatising’ strip-searches by Met
want everyone to enjoy the warm most commonly start from ciga-
weather safely when it arrives but rettes and barbeques. MORE than six hundred chil- This is required by law, except in Hackney Safeguarding Children
remember that heat can have a fast People are advised not to drop dren underwent “intrusive and cases of “urgency”, and usually is Partnership (CHSCP) conclud-
impact on health. cigarette butts out of car windows, traumatising” strip-searches by a parent or guardian, but can also ed the strip-search should never
“It’s important to ensure that or have barbeques in parks or on the Metropolitan Police over a be a social worker, carer or a vol- have happened, was unjustified
people who are more vulnerable – balconies. Having a bucket of water two-year period, with black boys unteer. and racism “was likely to have
elderly people who live alone and handy and keeping an eye on the disproportionately targeted, fig- The Children’s Commissioner, been an influencing factor”.
people with underlying health con- barbeque at all times is advised. ures show. Dame Rachel de Souza, requested Four Metropolitan Police of-
Some 650 10-17-year-olds were the figures after the Child Q scan- ficers are being investigated for
strip-searched by Met officers be- dal came to light in March. gross misconduct by the Inde-
The 15-year-old schoolgirl was pendent Office for Police Conduct
Sahara Salman tween 2018 and 2020, according her period after being wrongly cident.
to data obtained from Scotland strip-searched by police while on (IOPC) in connection with the in-
Yard by the Children’s Commis-
named locally sioner. suspected of carrying cannabis at and said it “should never have
Scotland Yard has apologised
Of these children, 58 per cent school.
as girl killed in gas blast were described by the officer as The search, by female Metropol- happened”.
Overall, 53 per cent of all the
being black, and more than 95 per itan Police officers, took place in
cent were boys.
2020 without another adult pres-
strip-searches resulted in no fur-
In almost a quarter (23 per cent) ent and in the knowledge that she ther action, which the Children’s
NEIGHBOURS of a family whose reason, while Merton Council says it of cases, strip-searches took place was menstruating, a safeguarding Commissioner said indicates that
home was destroyed in a gas blast has provided help to more than 200 without an “appropriate adult” report found. they “may well not be justified or
have been told they face weeks living residents. confirmed to have been present. A review conducted by City & necessary in all cases”.
in hotels, as a girl who was killed in Those displaced are likely to be
the explosion was named locally as in hotels for weeks, the council has
Sahara Salman. said. Four rescued and 50 properties damaged
Sahara, believed to be four years On Tuesday, local MP Siobhain
old, died on Monday morning at her McDonagh said there was "a lot of
terraced home in Thornton Heath, anger" about delays in resolving the as burst water main in Islington
south London. gas leak, which was reported last
Three other people sustained month. AROUND 50 properties have sures. cil’s housing officers door knocked
life-threatening injuries in the blast. Merton Council leader Ross Gar- been damaged and four people res- Ten fire engines and around 70 all ground floor homes on the Harv-
cued after a water main burst in firefighters were called to the scene ist estate to check on residents and
About 80 homes have been evacu- rod said the Health and Safety Execu- north London. on Hornsey Road. offer support, though fortunately
ated for safety reasons, as response tive (HSE) told him the situation had Emergency services were called Most of the flooding receded there does not appear to have been
teams wait for the remaining gas to not stabilised since the explosion, to the scene in Islington just after by midday and water has been re- any significant flooding of homes
dissipate. and criticised insurance companies 7am on Monday after a 4ft deep stored to houses in N1, N4, N5 and on the estate. Thames Water is as-
Police say the supply to Galpin's for "refusing basic accommodation" flood washed through Hornsey N7. sisting private properties that have
Road has been turned off for this for those affected. Road prompting multiple road clo- Islington Council said: “The coun- been affected...”