0:00:00 > 0:00:01Newsnight's about to begin over on BBC Two in a few moments.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15Good evening, I'm Asad Ahmad.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18For the second time in a matter of days,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20residents in West London have suffered flooding after a water main
0:00:20 > 0:00:22burst on a major road.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Today's leak seriously damaged some basement flats,
0:00:24 > 0:00:31while local businesses lost money.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33And the problem of flooding seems to be getting worse,
0:00:33 > 0:00:37as more have now been recorded, than at any time in the past decade.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41Here's Jim Wheble.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Another high street flooded, thanks to a burst water main.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49This time Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, which started
0:00:49 > 0:00:50gushing at 3am this morning.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52OK, show us then what's been going on down there.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56And another shop owner flooded out.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59It's the fourth time in the last 10 years it's happened
0:00:59 > 0:01:00here to Brian Mitchell.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02This is what we came down to see.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Right.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06I mean, the water is still sort of flowing in, isn't it?
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Yeah, still flowing in.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08What does this mean for you here?
0:01:08 > 0:01:12We had to close down the studio and then we had to close down
0:01:12 > 0:01:17the shops upstairs as well.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Next door to Brian, it's even worse.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Well, this is Olga's flat and you can see
0:01:22 > 0:01:23it's completely flooded.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26We're in the sort of basement level here and there's all sorts
0:01:26 > 0:01:30of stuff floating around.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34I've got a mop here, just floated its way over to me.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36She's managed to take some of her possessions out,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39but she's literally too upset to talk.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Two bin bags.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46And if this seems strangely familiar, well that's
0:01:46 > 0:01:49because on the weekend a different burst water main on King Street,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51in Hammersmith, much the same consequences.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Of course, London's Victorian water main infrastructure doesn't help,
0:01:55 > 0:02:00but some say Thames Water just aren't doing enough.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02It's not as though that issue has been unknown to Thames Water
0:02:02 > 0:02:08and they've only just discovered it, so that's where my sympathy ends,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12and I do think it's time for them to step up and to get those
0:02:12 > 0:02:14detection, the technology into the pipes, so they can start
0:02:14 > 0:02:17telling us which pipes are the most likely to burst and to try
0:02:17 > 0:02:20and prevent rather than then trying to solve the problem.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So we know that investment on our network is really,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25really important to our customers and that's why, for the year that's
0:02:25 > 0:02:28just gone and the next two years, we've increased the investment
0:02:28 > 0:02:30in our large pipes - those are big pipes over
0:02:30 > 0:02:3312 inches in width - by the tune of £90 million and why
0:02:33 > 0:02:36the next period between 2020 and 2025 we're aiming
0:02:36 > 0:02:37to double our investment.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40As part of our business plan processes, we're testing that
0:02:40 > 0:02:42with our customers as we speak.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46So the floodwater on Goldhawk Road now has receded.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49The engineers have got things pretty much under control,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52but there will be people throughout the night who will have no water
0:02:52 > 0:02:53or very low pressure.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56There are bottles of water available here as well as a liaison officers
0:02:56 > 0:03:02from Thames Water who will be here throughout the night.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08Thames Water features in our next story too,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11because this programme has learnt that tens of thousands of Londoners
0:03:11 > 0:03:14could be about to get a pay-out from their local council.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17That's because nearly half of London's councils have been
0:03:17 > 0:03:20unfairly billing their tenants for their tap water.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Alex Bushill can tell us how, in his exclusive report.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Getting rinsed for your water bills.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Lorraine is a council tenant on a low income but now high
0:03:32 > 0:03:35on the list of those due a pay-out, running perhaps to
0:03:35 > 0:03:36hundreds of pounds.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39It could have benefited me in a lot of ways -
0:03:39 > 0:03:46food, paying bills, I wouldn't have been struggling so much.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48To actually live, day-to-day.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51So what's gone wrong for Lorraine and so many others like her?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Well, this is what you'd expect to see - Thames Water selling
0:03:54 > 0:03:55direct to its customers.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Instead, though, some councils got involved as a middleman, reselling
0:03:57 > 0:04:04the water to their tenants.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07What's more, Southwark didn't pass on the discounts that it was given
0:04:07 > 0:04:08by Thames Water for buying in bulk.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11It's also worth stressing that if tenants now fell
0:04:11 > 0:04:12into arrears with the council, effectively their landlord,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14they could face eviction orders.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Lorraine says that's exactly what happened to her.
0:04:16 > 0:04:24If I was paying my water bill directly to the water company,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26I would not be allowed, they would not be allowed
0:04:26 > 0:04:28to cut my water off.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30They would have to take me to court themselves
0:04:30 > 0:04:32and I wouldn't face eviction.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34I think it's really disgraceful.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Our investigation has revealed that Lorraine is far from alone.
0:04:38 > 0:04:43We've identified a total of 269 recent cases where the evictions
0:04:43 > 0:04:46of tenants did include an unfair claim for water rate arrears.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Now, 14 councils in and around London have confirmed they did enter
0:04:51 > 0:04:54into similar deals with water companies, of whom eight councils
0:04:54 > 0:04:59said they generated £33 million from those agreements between them.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Now, at least 170,000 tenants may now be getting a pay out.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Wandsworth Council has already paid back £5.9 million in total.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12Waltham Forest has set aside £4.3 million,
0:05:12 > 0:05:17and Lorraine's Council, Enfield, set aside £2.2 million.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20As for Thames Water, they say they've never
0:05:20 > 0:05:22received any charges over and above the authorised tariff.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25What's more, they are now working with local authorities,
0:05:25 > 0:05:29reviewing contracts to ensure customers pay the correct amount.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Lorraine's case is now being investigated by lawyers
0:05:32 > 0:05:36seeking to bring a joint class action for all those affected.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38They say even where councils are already paying out,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42a closer look may be needed.
0:05:42 > 0:05:48Some of them are saying that they are waiting for a legal
0:05:48 > 0:05:51challenge and they are not going to pay a single thing.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Others are trying to make small payments below the radar.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Some tenants are having small payments, £50,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57that kind of amount, made into their bank account
0:05:57 > 0:05:58or credited against arrears.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Some councils are clearly hoping that they can dispose of this
0:06:01 > 0:06:03problem to a few people at a massive discount against the true
0:06:03 > 0:06:07compensation that should be paid.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Enfield Council also say they have had no complaint
0:06:10 > 0:06:12from Lorraine as yet, but are happy to discuss
0:06:12 > 0:06:16one when they do.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18They have also changed their policy so they are compliant.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Alex Bushell, BBC London News.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23In other news...
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Police officers were called-in to take control of a Royal Borough
0:06:25 > 0:06:28of Greenwich council meeting this evening, after protestors shouted
0:06:28 > 0:06:30over a speech about why an unofficial shrine to murdered
0:06:30 > 0:06:32soldier Lee Rigby had been removed from the spot
0:06:32 > 0:06:34where he was murdered nearly five years ago.
0:06:34 > 0:06:40Council Leader, Denise Hyland said far-right groups used the shrine
0:06:40 > 0:06:41"for their own causes" and Fusilier Rigby's family
0:06:42 > 0:06:43supported its removal.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46The meeting was temporarily stopped.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50A prisoner has been stabbed to death at Wormwood Scrubs
0:06:50 > 0:06:52jail in East Acton.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Scotland Yard said the victim was found with a number
0:06:54 > 0:07:02of knife wounds this afternoon and died at the scene.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08Just last month, inspectors said the jail
0:07:08 > 0:07:09has high levels of "serious violence".
0:07:09 > 0:07:12The Mayor of London delivered on one of his election pledges today.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15The new unlimited hopper bus fare means you can take as many
0:07:15 > 0:07:16journeys as you want in an hour.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19But, we can reveal that the Mayor also has plans
0:07:19 > 0:07:21to cut bus services, after figures show a big drop
0:07:21 > 0:07:23in passenger numbers.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Here's our Transport Correspondent, Tom Edwards.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28If you've noticed it can take longer to get a bus, you're not wrong.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Services in London are being cut, and the bad news is it's
0:07:32 > 0:07:35going to get worse, and buses are the most used form
0:07:35 > 0:07:38of public transport, with 6 million journeys a day.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Generally, I mean the bus service I use is pretty regular,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44but other services are not so good.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48The only thing I can't complain about actually is the drivers.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Are they regular, are they frequent?
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Yes, when I use them they are, yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56The latest figures show that in 2016, buses travelled
0:07:56 > 0:08:00495 million kilometres.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06In 2017 it fell to 490 million - a drop of 1%.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11And, during that period, passengers nnumbers fell by 32 million.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13That's blamed on congestion, the rise of minicab
0:08:13 > 0:08:19apps and even Netflix.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21But the Mayor wants to make further cuts to the bus service.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27He wants to reduce the total bus mileage by 7% by 2022.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31This morning, the Mayor launched his hopper fare,
0:08:31 > 0:08:33meaning unlimited bus trips within an hour.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37You've got passenger numbers coming down,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39you've cut bus mileage.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Is the bus service in London in decline?
0:08:42 > 0:08:42No, not at all.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45I'm committed to buses in London.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48As far as outer London is concerned, you'll see more buses.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51In central London, for very good reasons, there'll be fewer buses
0:08:51 > 0:08:54because of the Elizabeth Line coming in and the Oxford Street
0:08:54 > 0:08:55pedestrianisation.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57But actually, we want to make sure buses are where
0:08:57 > 0:08:59they are needed the most.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01What nobody wants to see is empty double-decker buses driving
0:09:01 > 0:09:04across the centre of London with nobody using them.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07What we do want to see is buses in those parts of London
0:09:07 > 0:09:09where Londoners desperately need more buses and with the unlimited
0:09:09 > 0:09:12hopper, it makes it far more attractive going forward than it has
0:09:12 > 0:09:14in the past.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18The unlimited hopper will cost £35 million every year.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23TfL's finances are already under strain, and it
0:09:23 > 0:09:25will mean more efficiencies.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27The hopper will increase the number of bus journeys
0:09:27 > 0:09:30being made in London, but it reduces our income
0:09:30 > 0:09:32by a little bit because people get a second journey free.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35The unlimited hopper makes more journeys free and it has a small
0:09:35 > 0:09:36impact on our budget.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40But as the Mayor has said, TfL has been on a path of reducing
0:09:40 > 0:09:43costs quite aggressively in the past few years and that will
0:09:43 > 0:09:44pay for the hopper.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46The Mayor says the hopper fare will bring back passengers.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Its critics say it is not worth paying, with a worse
0:09:49 > 0:09:52service for passengers.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Tom Edwards, BBC London News.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00That's it for now from me, but let's find out what
0:10:00 > 0:10:01the weathers up to with Helen.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04I don't know if you have seen the moon everyone has been talking
0:10:04 > 0:10:05about.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07moon everyone has been talking about.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Good evening. This is one of the beautiful photographs we have had
0:10:10 > 0:10:14sent in. No, it won't affect our weather but our weather may affect
0:10:14 > 0:10:22the view. Not just rain on the way but as the skies cloud over we could
0:10:22 > 0:10:25see a real wintry mix, a bit of sleet and snow. It should clear for
0:10:25 > 0:10:30the most part before the morning rush, but look at the temperatures.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Falling back close to freezing. They will fall to freezing on the roads
0:10:33 > 0:10:36and pavements, they will be wet following the rain and sleet and
0:10:36 > 0:10:41snow so there is a Met Office be prepared ice warning for the rest of
0:10:41 > 0:10:45the evening, overnight and the morning rush. Although tomorrow
0:10:45 > 0:10:56looks sparkling, we will be scraping the ice when the morning. A further
0:10:56 > 0:10:58few showers to combat the wind really will make it feel
0:10:58 > 0:11:00significantly colder than temperatures adjust. A little sweet
0:11:00 > 0:11:01and hail as well. Here is