Disaster' roadworks lead to '10ft fountain of water' as business owners rage

Traders and business owners in Hove say they’ve been hit by burst water mains during a major road reconstruction on Western Road, leaving shops without running water, cancelling customers, and dealing with flooded basements. Residents reportedly saw a “ten-foot” jet of water shoot into the air on October 7, with water continuing overnight and into the next day. Southern Water said it repaired multiple burst mains, including some attributed to “accidental damage” by third-party contractors. The disruption is tied to the council’s 45-day project to rebuild Western Road from Holland Road to Montpelier Road, scheduled from September 28 to November 6, while parts of the road base are removed and rebuilt.