http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome…-in.5977719.jp
13 January 2010
By Rory O’Keeffe
Portsmouth’s landmark ‘lipstick tower’ stands empty after residents were evacuated in a flooding drama.
More than 100 people living in the showpiece apartments on the edge of Gunwharf Quays were forced out of their homes after water cascaded through the tower’s top floors.
The flood, caused by a poorly-connected pipe in the building’s £4m penthouse, short-circuited electricity systems, leaving the tower in darkness.
Water damaged the top nine floors of the 29-storey, 141-apartment building.
All residents were forced out into the snow as the flood hit on Saturday evening.
Water cascaded from the top floor, down lift shafts and into the apartments.
Residents are now being put up in hotels as the tower’s owner, Berkeley Homes, surveys the damage.
Tim Edwards, 26, who lives on the Berkeley Homes-owned building’s 15th floor, said: ‘We’ve been told we can’t come back before Friday at the earliest. We understand accidents happen, but we pay a maintenance fee to live here and I would have expected more support from Berkeley Homes. All we had was a notice on the door telling us we couldn’t stay in our flats.’
The flood struck just before 5pm and Mr Edwards was one of the first on the scene.
He said: ‘We saw water was falling in the lift shafts like a waterfall. It was also falling on the building’s main electric circuit box.
‘The fire brigade had been called and we went up with the fireman. When we forced open the door the water was four inches deep. A pipe had come away from its connections, and the water was rushing out at full pressure.
‘The penthouse is being renovated and the fireman said the pipe had been badly connected.’
As a result, all residents have been forced to leave.
Mr Edwards added: ‘We’ve all had to stay in hotels, which is costing my wife and I £85 per night. We don’t know how much more we’ll have to pay.
‘We hope Berkeley Homes will reimburse us, but there are people who don’t have enough money to pay out upfront.
‘We’re allowed into our flats to pick things up, but in our case we have to climb 254 stairs, in pitch black, because the electricity’s off. Not only that, there are some people who will be out of their flats for a long time because of the water damage.’
A spokesman for Berkeley Homes said: ‘The leak affected the lighting and lift service, so it was decided residents should vacate the building.
‘We’re working closely with Scottish and Southern Energy so residents can return as soon as possible. We’re liaising on temporary accommodation costs residents incur and hope they can return soon.’
