Wootton Bassett Road in Swindon has been shut after a leaking water main burst – with locals claiming Thames Water has ignored the issue for days.
The incident sparked the closure of the busy A3102 between Westcott Road and Redposts Drive early this morning (Tuesday).
Thames Water has been notified and crews are on their way to assess and repair the damage, according to Wiltshire Police.
Residents turned to social media to express growing frustration at delayed action.
One comment claimed that people had reported the leak to Thames Water days earlier, suggesting that earlier intervention might have limited disruption to traffic.
Another resident questioned whether the incident affects local hosepipe restrictions, stating that if Thames Water had known about the leak a week ago and taken no action, it seemed unfair to continue limiting household water use.
Further comments echoed the same concern, claiming that multiple reports had been made but Thames Water had not responded, and that the company’s perceived inaction is forcing local traffic onto rat runs and prolonging congestion.
One wrote: ‘Residents reported this to [Thames Water] days ago yet they did nothing.
‘If they’d been proactive we’d have had temporary traffic lights for a few days.
‘Now we are facing two big road closures locally and more traffic forced along rat runs for however long this takes.
‘[Thames Water] are really incompetent and not fit to be the custodians of our precious water supply.’
Wiltshire Police urged drivers to find alternate routes and to allow extra time for journeys while the road remains closed.
Thames Water has been approached for comment.
