Council must dig deep after manhole thefts

16 July 2008

Almost £31,000 worth of manhole covers have been stolen from the London borough of Brent over the last two months alone.

Thieves had taken 95 manhole covers, probably to be sold for scrap metal, Brent Council said. It is understood the manholes fetch about £10 at scrap metal yards, although the authority has to pay £325 for a new one.

Dangerous holes are being left uncovered and the council is working hard to make the areas safe by using cones and covering holes with plywood until the covers can be replaced. Although Brent has had the same problem in previous years, the high number of manhole thefts is unusual and smaller roads with no CCTV are being targeted.

Councillor Daniel Brown, Brent council’s lead member for highways and transportation, said: ‘The council has already contacted local scrap metal yards about the issue, and we will be taking a hard line with those thieves responsible.

‘We are concerned that people may injure themselves because of these holes. The metal grates are also costly to replace and this is a waste of taxpayers’ money.’

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