What we know 24 hours on from Stratford Road floods as Severn Trent issues warning

A busy street along a major commuter route into Birmingham was left looking 'like a river'
-Credit: (Image: SWNS)


Member of the public have been told to avoid part of a Birmingham neighbourhood this morning, Saturday September 7, after it was left submerged after severe flooding following a burst pipe. Stratford Road was dramatically cut off on Friday morning after 28-inch water pipe burst in Sparkhill in the early hours of the morning.

The flooding occurred on Stratford Road at the corner of College Road and Knowle Road with West Midlands Fire Service arriving just before 6.40am. Some joked the Sparkhill spot looked more like Venice as residents and business owners were forced to stay indoors or wade through the water.

More than 24 hours on, Severn Trent has confirmed they are carrying out swift repairs and that all customers are back on supply. However people have been told to "find alternative routes if possible" amidst ongoing road closures as repairs are carried out.

READ MORE: Stratford Road 'turned into lake' as major leak hits nine postcodes and leaves streets submerged

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A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “All customers are now back on supply after our teams worked through the night to tackle the burst water pipe in Stratford Road, Sparkhill, with bottled water earlier being delivered to affected households. The flood waters are receding and our priority is to carry out repairs as quickly and as safely as possible and get everything back to normal as soon as we can.

"We’d like to say a big thank you to the local community who have been incredibly understanding and welcoming and have looked after our teams and those from West Midlands Fire Service, West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, serving food and chai to crews during this complicated operation.

"We have partially lifted the road closure this morning but would urge people to find alternative routes if possible. We are continuing to liaise closely with the community and would like to apologise for the disruption caused.”

Business owners told BirminghamLive at the scene on Friday that they had to turn away customers, and primary schools were forced to close early due to lack of water. One Knowle Road resident, Chaudry, 23, said he wrapped his feet with carrier bags and bin liners whilst using a stick to wade through the water.

He said: "At 5.30am I saw all of this, our back garden is flooded with water up to the ankles."

West Midlands Fire Service confirmed they left the scene on Friday night once workers had significantly reduced water flow. A WMFS spokesperson said on X: "Firefighters left the scene of flooding in Birmingham at approximately 11.45pm last night, after Severn Trent Water engineers significantly reduced water flow from the burst main. Thank you to the community for their understanding while we worked at this incident."

A West Midlands Roads spokesperson said on X on Saturday morning, September 7: "A34 Stratford Road around Shaftmoor Lane Sparkhill has reopened following yesterday's burst water main and flooding. There are lane closures at the junction still, as repairs are carried out."