On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 08:52:18 +0000, Steve Loft wrote:

The deeds specifically say that I am responsible for its
maintenance, and the pipework up to my neigbours' boundaries. I am
also jointly responsible for some of the stopcocks and pipework on
my neighbours' properties.

Sounds like a hang over from an old private water supply to a small
group of houses. Where the mains connects to this system there should
be a water board stop cock. Of course closing that will shut of your
neighbours as well...

However you need a stopcock somethere that will work just for you.
Suggest you chat to your neighbours and arrange a mutually convient
time for you to shut the main stopcock and change your internal one.
Shouldn't take to long if you are ready to with all the bits required
to cut the pipe and bung on the new valve. Once the new valve is
connected (and closed) you can turn the main stopcock back on. 10mins?

At some point in the future it maybe worth checking all the other
stopcocks and have replacement session in one hit when the weather is
more conducive to working in a wet hole.

One though that has just occured about why your external stopcock has
seized so quickly after last use is that you mentioned WD40. If this
is a plastic valve the solvents in the WD40 may have done nasty things
to the plastics, or even any O rings in a metal valve...

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail