Eight businesses have been left high and dry after they say their water was switched off “without warning” on Monday.
The business owners and staff members of Flush Place Retail Park, Lurgan returned to their premises on Monday morning ready to begin another working week only to discover that their water supply had been cut off.
Speaking to Armagh I, one distraught owner said: “We can’t operate without running water. It’s now Thursday and there is no end in sight.
“There has been no help, no sympathy. There are two restaurants within the centre and they can’t operate at all without water. We have all lost hundreds of pounds and no one can even flush a toilet!”
The business owner – who wishes to remain anonymous – advised that after multiple phone calls to Northern Ireland Water and the building’s landlord the only information they have gleaned is that there appears to be an ongoing “dispute” between the two. The result is that the building’s tenants have been left stranded.
“Not one person can offer an explanation, ” they said. “Some of the other business owners here have even offered to come together and help pay a bill if there is one outstanding to help get things going again.
“Some people have even purchased their premises outright from the landlord and their water is off too.
“There was no letter, no phone call warning us of this happening. They just shut the whole thing down.
“We have exhausted all other options. We have mortgages and bills to pay, there are single mothers here and we all have employees looking to us and they feel like we are disrespecting them but there is nothing we can do.”
A spokesperson from NI Water said: “NI Water will not comment on individual billing cases. However, we have advised the business owners in Flush Place, Lurgan, to make contact with their landlord, who is the account holder responsible for the Retail Park. We appreciate this situation must be frustrating for those businesses, however, this is an issue that can only be resolved by the landlord.
“It is important that customers who may need extra help with their bill communicate with us as soon as possible. Our billing team will be on hand to discuss the customer’s specific circumstances and offer support in terms of suitable repayment plans. However, customers must engage with our team to enable us to provide assistance.”
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