Grimsby flooding concerns raised by MP | News – Greatest Hits Radio (East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire)
Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) has written to Flooding Minister Emma Hardy about repeated burst mains
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie OnnAuthor: Ivan Morris Poxton, LDRSPublished 15th Dec 2025
Last updated 15th Dec 2025
The Government is being urged to intervene over repeated burst water main problems in part of Grimsby. Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) has written to Flooding Minister Emma Hardy about repeated burst mains at Freeman Street and Grimsby Town Cricket Club.
The burst water main in Freeman Street that caused disruption in late October was the third in a year. Meanwhile, the cricket club experienced three floods this year between January and October, due to a burst water pipe.
Ms Onn’s letter, sent on December 9, asks for the Government to contact Anglian Water “given the significant impact of these repeated failures”. It requests the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) discusses with the water company “the reliability of its infrastructure and ensure timely investment in renewal”.
An Anglian Water spokesperson has said investigations show the water network is “currently managing demand effectively”. But it is “actively investigating potential long-term solutions to prevent future issues”.
“Residents and local businesses are fed up with the constant disruption caused by failing water infrastructure,” said Ms Onn. “Independent traders on Freeman Street and organisations like Grimsby Town Cricket Club cannot continue to absorb the cost of burst after burst while waiting for meaningful investment.”
She added the issues were “not minor inconveniences” but were “damaging livelihoods, and jeopardising community facilities. I have asked ministers to press Anglian Water to step up, take responsibility, and commit to the long-term renewal our area urgently needs.
“The Government must ensure that Anglian Water addresses these repeated failures properly and quickly, and that support is available for the businesses and community groups that have already suffered far too much disruption.”
Ms Onn’s office has been in direct contact with Anglian Water since August. The Labour MP’s letter to Ms Hardy states the May and October burst water mains in Freeman Street “caused major disruption”. Ongoing flooding the cricket club has faced has damaged the pitch and led to short notice relocated matches, it also references.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We’re aware of recent burst water mains in Grimsby, including on Freeman Street and at the cricket club. Although customers’ water supply was not affected by these leaks, we know it’s inconvenient to face repeated disruption, especially on a major road such Freeman Street and for local amenities such as the cricket club.”
Its local team carries out “regular holistic evaluations” of the network, from source to tap, including how water is used. “Although these investigations show us that the network is currently managing demand effectively, we are actively investigating potential long-term solutions to prevent future issues in this area given the recent bursts. We’re keeping local stakeholders informed throughout this process.”
It is understood Anglian Water’s focus is on gaining a deeper understand of the water usage in Grimsby area. This includes transients within the network that could contribute to issues like burst pipes. It also assesses water pressure levels, for whether reductions may improve network stability.
It is not just the town’s main MP who has become concerned by water network issues in Grimsby. East Marsh Ward councillors, all Liberal Democrat, wrote to Anglian Water’s chief executive after the October water main burst in Freeman Street, and received a reply. They also put forward a motion to full council on December 11, concerning the water issues and greater council scrutiny of it, which was eventually passed.
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