Street stopcock locked off?

[23vc]

Went to look at a house today which has been empty for several years. Wanted to put water on to look at something to do with the drains, but presumably off at street cock as kitchen stopcock didn’t help. Opened the usual square hatch on pavement, and could see a meter but couldn’t spot the usual stopcock/plastic handle or any way of turning it on.
Admittedly didn’t have my glasses on but is it likely Severn Trent have cut the supply off? Does that result in no visible way of turning it on?

Thanks

 

[HERTS P&D]

I bet it was like this:

Andy

 

[23vc]

probably, couldn’t really see it. Guess I’ve got no chance of getting it turned on until someone buys it and starts paying water bills then. Not sure what’s happened to cause it to be cut off, it’s a probate being dealt with by a 3rd party/solicitor I think, I guess all utilities are off

 

[StephenOak]

A while back a mate had to turn off his water in the road (replacing a kitchen stopcock) and found that the meter did not have a key with it but he knew it had been there before.

Looking online it seemed this is a not uncommon occurrence. Someone uses the key then doesn't put it back. When it is next needed it isn't there so whoever needs it walks along the road and nicks one from another meter.

My mate ended up borrowing the key from a neighbour.

 

[23vc]

What do you mean by “key”? Not the usual generic stopcock key?

 

[CountryFan]

What do you mean by “key”? Not the usual generic stopcock key?

If you look at @HERTS P&D post, you can see the newer type of stopcock key, a removable plastic type. Crap design imo.

 

[23vc]

Cheers all, have the water board done this then? Or just something gone missing that can be replaced

 

[CountryFan]

Cheers all, have the water board done this then? Or just something gone missing that can be replaced

Anyone could have done it. Anyone could have nicked it, including a neighbour. As I said, crap design. Not sure if you can use a suitably sized hex/Allen key, or even just an adjustable spanner. Could have been turned off for a leak or just because it’s empty

 

[23vc]

Ta, so it doesn’t sound like Severn Trent have actually cut it off forcibly then.

 

[StephenOak]

Not sure if you can use a suitably sized hex/Allen key, or even just an adjustable spanner.

If it is the type that @HERTS P&D linked to maybe but there are a number of different types, it looks like each maker of water meter has just come up with their own design.

When my mate's one disappeared I looked at ours, it is a circle with a bit cut off two opposite sides. So a pair of pliers might work, but the part the key turns is quite deep in a narrow space.