Anti-flooding project to get underway (From Wiltshire Times)

Anti-flooding project to get underway

12:30pm Wednesday 17th January 2007 in Trowbridge

A £200,000 project to replace and improve sewers which flood during heavy downpours is due to get underway in Trowbridge.

Four projects are taking place in the town at the same time, with the biggest one seeing 200 metres of sewer replaced in Victoria Road, leading to the road being closed for 10 weeks.

Other projects will be carried out on sewers in Clarendon Road, Innox Road and Green Lane.

Wessex Water has invested the money because it says the sewers cannot cope during heavy rainstorms, like ones seen throughout this month.

Lead design engineer Dave Ogborne said a small number of homes had been flooded by sewer water.

"Sewer flooding is unacceptable in this day and age which is why we are committed to removing this risk to people's properties," he said.

"Unfortunately this work will result in some inconvenience to residents."

Victoria Road will be closed from January 22 to March 30.

In Clarendon Road, Wessex Water is increasing the size of 150 metres of sewer to cope with surges of rainwater.

In Innox Road a new lateral drain will be laid in a week-long project, while in Green Lane a new sewer will be laid, with most of the work taking place on private land.

Wessex Water has vowed to remove 800 homes in Trowbridge from the risk of sewer flooding by 2010.