Water company slammed for ‘shoddy’ work in Charlbury

Eric Pradel has lived in Charlbury in the same property, within the conservation area, for the last 25 years.

In February, Thames Water installed a large, black telemetry pillar within inches of his home to allow the company to monitor water flow, pressure, and other critical data.

Images show the bollard installed into black tarmac and leaning towards his listed limestone home.

Telemetry pillar installed ‘badly’ in a conservation in Charlbury and within inches of a Grade II listed home (Image: Eric Pradel)

He says every subcontractor which has visited the structure has “commented on the poor workmanship and lack of care on the placement”.

One who visited on Wednesday (May 27) questioned “if the installation crew had been drunk”.

Despite multiple attempts in contacting Thames Water, asking them to reconsider the placement, he has had no response.

He said: “They are not concerned that it has been installed in such a shoddy way.”

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Mr Pradel has also been in contact with West Oxfordshire District Council, asking for their help to “move this to a more sympathetic location”.

He said: “We would need to get permission if we were to make even a minor alteration to the front of our property, and yet, Thames Water needed no permission whatsoever to install this pillar wherever they pleased.

“West Oxfordshire District Council seem powerless or unwilling to fight them on it.”

Both authorities have been contacted for a comment.