A fire in a bin store at Varity House on Vicarage Farm Road has left about 300 people without running water, tenants and officials confirmed. The blaze, which took place shortly before 10:00 BST on Saturday, damaged the building's communal water tank and has disrupted supplies to the block's 111 flats.
Immediate impact on residents
Tenants described two days without tap water for basic tasks such as washing and flushing. Management company IPM Ltd said it had been unable to restore the supply over the weekend but expected repairs to start in the coming days. In the meantime, those living in the block have been given bottled water and temporary chemical toilets sited in the car park.
"It has been two days now, no flushing water, no showers, nothing from a tap - it's really bad,"
was the assessment from Ryan Gilmore, who lives at Varity House with his partner. Another resident, who asked not to be named, said she did not feel safe using the portable toilets and highlighted the strain the outage placed on people with demanding jobs.
Council and utility response
Anglian Water delivered 12 litres of water to each household in the block. Peterborough City Council's emergency planning teams were deployed and local councillors visited the site to assess the situation and press the management company to act.
"Our housing enforcement team has been incredibly conscientious in pushing the management company to get a structural engineer out so that the water supply can be restored as soon as possible,"
said Shabina Qayyum, leader of the city council and councillor for the ward that includes Varity House. She added that bottled water and portable toilets were inadequate long-term solutions.
What residents need to know
- Approximately 111 flats at Varity House are affected.
- About 300 people are estimated to be without running water.
- Anglian Water has provided bottled water; IPM Ltd is arranging repairs.
- Portable toilets are on site but some residents say they are unsatisfactory.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flats affected | 111 |
| Estimated people affected | ~300 |
| Water delivered per flat | 12 litres |
| Time since incident (as reported) | Around 48 hours |
The building’s management has been criticised by tenants for a perceived lack of clear communication about repair timing. Several residents reported staying with family while others awaited more substantial support. The council says it will continue to monitor the situation as structural checks and repair work progress.
InfoRadar will update this report when IPM Ltd, Anglian Water or the council release further details on the repair timetable or additional support for affected residents.
