{"id":687559,"date":"2026-01-10T21:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/687559\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T21:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:30:10","slug":"east-grinstead-water-shortage-causes-traffic-bedlam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/687559\/","title":{"rendered":"East Grinstead water shortage causes traffic ‘bedlam’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n South East Water confirmed that the water shortage had hit the East Grinstead area today.\n<\/p>\n

\n It said that the issue is unlikely to be resolved before the end of the weekend.\n<\/p>\n

\n The company has set up two water stations in East Grinstead town centre where residents can collect free bottled water.\n<\/p>\n

\n These are located at Sainsbury\u2019s, on Brooklands Way, and Queensway Car Park, on Queen\u2019s Road.\n<\/p>\n

\n Water stations have been set up in East Grinstead (Image: South East Water)\n<\/p>\n

\n Both stations are open until 10pm tonight, and will reopen at 9am tomorrow.\u00a0They will remain open until customer supplies are returned to normal.\n<\/p>\n

\n However, people queueing to receive water at these stations has left the town centre gridlocked with traffic.\n<\/p>\n

\n The congestion has been made worse by the fact a rail replacement bus service is operating all weekend between East Grinstead and Gatwick Airport.\n<\/p>\n

\n Mims Davies, MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, described the situation as the “worst case scenario”.\n<\/p>\n

\n In a video posted on social media, she said: “It’s bedlam in East Grinstead this afternoon. The reality is, today is awful.\n<\/p>\n

\n “It’s been the worst case scenario that we’re getting.”\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n \ud83d\udca7 South East Water Update from Chequer Mead with East Grinstead Town Mayor, John Belsey \ud83d\udca7<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce7 If you believe you should be on the PSR list (Priority Services Register), or have any issues – please do contact South East Water – community@southeastwater.co.uk or 0333 000 0365\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/5G6SjC0KhX<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

\n \u2014 Mims Davies MP (@mimsdavies) January 10, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n It is also believed that the supply issues are affecting surrounding villages, such as Ashurst Wood, and parts of Uckfield.\n<\/p>\n

\n Local business have been affected, such as The Railway pub in East Grinstead, which closed at 1pm on Saturday.\n<\/p>\n

\n A Fun Run due to take place tomorrow morning with Olympic champion Kelly Holmes has also been cancelled.\n<\/p>\n

\n South East Water said the issues resulted from the recent Storm Goretti, and were exacerbated by burst water mains on its network.\n<\/p>\n

\n There was severe congestion in East Grinstead town centre (Image: AA)\n<\/p>\n

\n Steve Andrews, Head of Operations Control at South East Water, said: “We\u2019re sorry to customers in the East Grinstead area who are experiencing either no water or low pressure today.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Storm Goretti has affected our ability to treat the raw water at the normal rate at our main Sussex water treatment works.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Coupled with the outbreak of burst water mains on our network due to the freeze\/thaw conditions being experienced across Sussex, our drinking water storage levels in the East Grinstead area have now been exhausted.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Regrettably, we do not expect water supplies to start to return to normal until the end of the weekend.\n<\/p>\n

\n “Tankers have been deployed and we are delivering a supply of bottled water to our vulnerable customers in the area that have signed up to our Priority Services Register.”\n<\/p>\n