Million pound sewer improvements in West Berkshire

Thames Water to carry out work to cope with extra 95 tonnes of sewage in the New Year

A £1M project to improve the sewer network is to be carried out in West Berkshire in the New Year.

Thames Water will be carrying out the work to protect homes from the misery of sewer flooding, increasing the size of sewers in Hildens Drive, City Road, Longworth Avenue and Foxcombe Drive, all of which are in Tilehurst.

The water company has said that the current system cannot cope with the growing demand, with 10 homes in Tilehurst previously enduring the horror of sewer flooding – when raw sewage backs up into people's properties.

The improvements will enable the pipes to cope with 95 tonnes more sewage.

Alongside this £1m project, work will also be carried out to reline sewer pipes in Hampstead Norreys, as holes in the pipes currently mean water seeps into the network, making it inadequate to cope with the flow.

Thames Water's programme delivery manager, Andrew Popple, said: “This is essential work to improve the sewer network in West Berkshire and to make it fit for the future.

“There is no place for sewer flooding in the 21st century so we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent our customers having to go through this ordeal.

“We apologise for the inevitable disruption and we ask customers to bear with us while we get this essential work done.”

Work on both projects is expected to start on January 9 and the roads in Tilehurst will be closed as work is completed, with diversions in place.

In Hampstead Norreys, traffic lights will be in place on Water Street and Church Street for the eight-week scheme.

Meanwhile, Thames Water has backed calls by the Government for people to value water and use it wisely, after 16 of the last 20 months saw below average rainfall across London and the Thames Valley.

The water company has also warned of the added challenge of burst pipes and has asked its customers to report a leaky pipe via a free ‘Leakline' on 0800 714614 or #tweetaleak via Twitter @thameswater.