I have had some interesting responses from Severn Trent customers since I posted my call for an inquiry, many of which have helped to define the extent of those areas affected by poor water supply resulting in intermittent low pressure and water outages recently.

It really does help to know who is and who isn’t affected issue. It does depend on where the supply originates from, which kind of tells you that the excuses Severn Trent are coming up with are not the whole story, and that there is an infrastructure/administrative element to all of this. Either way, phoning customers up at 4 in the morning really is not good PR.

According to Severn Trent over usage was the issue , filling paddling pools and the like. This excuse, and the extent that Severn Trent went to to get their message out there on TV, the Press, Social Media, emails and phones has incensed many. Since this onslaught many of you have said you would welcome an inquiry.

Residents have told me that they took exception to the private providers constant references to paddling pools and the like. that if you pay for something you expect to receive the goods. It’s a private monopoly. It’s not as if you can say to them “You know what? I don’t like the service I get from you. I’m going to switch to South Staffs Water” or whoever.

What I am about to say may not be popular with some, but maybe it’s time there was a re-think nationally and everyday necessities like water, power and public transport should be under public control, accountable to the public and not as it is at present, a private sector provider accountable to shareholders?