Educational Facilities in Yeovil Close Following Water Main Rupture

Seven schools and a college were forced to close their doors after a burst water pipe disrupted their water supply. Yeovil College, Birchfield Primary School, and Fairmead School, all located in Yeovil, Somerset, were among the institutions that ceased operations on Friday. Additionally, thousands of properties throughout the town reported experiencing either low water pressure or a complete absence of water. Wessex Water, the local water provider, announced that water service had been reinstated to 6,000 properties by noon. The utility company stated that individuals still experiencing disruptions are being contacted. “We’ve managed to get most customers back in supply by moving water around our network while we carry out repairs. Thanks for your patience, we’re sorry for any inconvenience the burst water main has caused,” they added. The rupture was successfully contained on Friday morning, enabling the redirection of water supply as repair operations proceeded. By midday, service had been reinstated to the overwhelming majority of affected properties. A limited number of premises remain without water, but the provider confirmed it would be reaching out to those impacted. Additional schools that ceased operations include Buckler’s Mead School, St Michael’s Academy, Milford Infants School, Milford Junior School, and Primrose Lane Primary School. Yeovil College confirmed that its University Centre and nursery also experienced closures. Preston School Academy, which continued to operate, reported that its staff supplied drinking water to students, many of whom arrived “without having had a drink this morning.” Matt Doble, the deputy head, stated: “A lot of our students are coming in saying they’ve been unable to take a shower or have a drink this morning. When we realised we still had good water pressure, we said if any families need to come in and bring a plastic bottle to refill, we’re more than happy to support the local community on that front.” Ken Comber, CEO of The Hub, a charity located in Yeovil that assists adults with learning disabilities and autism, was compelled to close the facility on short notice after the ruptured pipe severed their water connection. “We didn’t have any water for our cafe, we couldn’t flush our toilets, people couldn’t wash their hands. For health and hygiene reasons, we’ve unfortunately had to close the whole facility today. Our trainees came here this morning happy, looking forward to their day, and unfortunately we’ve had to send them home,” he added. Judy Parker, the head teacher at Birchfield Community Primary School in Yeovil, expressed hope, stating “fingers crossed” for a Monday reopening. “It’s a really busy time of year. We’ve got our nativities, our practices and our engaging curriculum. The last thing we ever want to do is shut our school.”