News

Severn Trent is investing £1.5m to help improve the sewer network for its customers in Kirk Hallam.

The work, which began last week, is designed to protect villagers from sewer flooding by increasing the size of the pipes, installing new gullies and building a new underground storage tank that can better cope with flash flooding which can cause problems with the local sewer network.

Graham Robinson, who’s leading the project for Severn Trent, says: “Sewer flooding can have devastating consequences for anybody, so this project is really important for local people as it means we’re helping protect their homes during heavy or sudden downpours of rain.

“By making the sewer pipes bigger, and by building an underground storage tank, we’re making sure that, in the event of heavy rain, the sewers and storage tank can help take more waste water away, reducing the risk of flooding for everybody living nearby.”

Severn Trent will be working on Wyndale Drive, Godfrey Drive (including the Kirk Hallam Lake layby), Lock Close and Abbot Road, with partners MNCN carrying out the work on behalf of the company.

“We’re doing everything we can so that this work causes as little disruption as possible,” adds Graham. “To keep our teams and everyone safe, there will be some traffic restrictions in place but we’ve planned this work carefully, so we hope there won’t be too many problems.” 

For the first phase of work, sections of Godfrey Drive will be closed from the layby entrance to the Abbot Road from 7th January until 22nd March. With Abbot Road also closing in sections from Friars Court to Godfrey Road.

For the second phase, sections of Godfrey Drive will be closed from the Abbot Road to Wyndale Drive from March 25th until 5th May. Sections of Wyndale Drive will then be closed from Godfrey Drive to Sunningdale Drive until mid-April.

After Easter the existing surface water system in Lock Close will also be improved by constructing additional gullies and a new sewer.  

“We know there’s never a good time to close roads, and we’re sorry if this does cause problems for anyone” continues Graham. “But this work is absolutely vital in making sure our customers are protected from sewer and highway flooding, something we’re sure no-one wants to experience.”

Severn Trent will also be constructing a new underground storage tank within the Godfrey Drive Lay-by area. This is due to start in February 2019, and will run until August 2019, where the layby will be closed for the duration.

The scheme forms part of the company’s commitment to investing in its infrastructure which will see the equivalent of £1,300 invested for every home and business it serves between 2015 and 2020.  To keep up to date with the project, further information can be found here: stw.works