An Update from Southern Water

(11/06/2020) Latest update from Southern Water – delay to planned connections work

Due to the impact of Covid-19 on our supply chain, we have been experiencing difficulties in sourcing the specialist materials and equipment we require to make the connections between the existing and new pipelines that have been installed under the river near the Quay in Sandwich. Coupled with the recent inclement weather, we have therefore had to delay this element of our work until next week (w/c 15^th June) at the earliest.

This will have a knock on impact on the timeline for completion of our repairs and the subsequent planned re-lining of the sewer pipes running under the A256 near Discovery Park.

As previously indicated, in order to enable the connections to take place, the pumping station will need to be shut down for a period of up to 36 hours for each connection (north and south), during which we will need to use tankers to manage flows.

We will be using up to 15 tankers during each shutdown period so we now expect to have to implement a noticeable increase in tanker activity during the period 15^th – 26^th June.

Supporting information will be shared via local media and social messaging to ensure local residents are aware of the delay. We will also update our dedicated webpage here

We will continue to implement measures for minimising the impact of the tankers when they are needed – using as few as possible, keeping them out of the town when possible, engines only running when necessary, and imposing a strict 20mph speed limit (10mph overnight).

Completing our works

Our teams have been working extremely hard to maintain progress and complete the installation of the new pipelines as quickly as possible whilst working within the restrictions placed upon them by current guidelines.

Subject to any further unforeseen delays, or long periods of inclement weather, we now expect to complete our works by mid-July, with full demobilisation by end of July.

Re-lining works on the A256

To provide additional resilience to the two sewer pipe running underneath the A256 by Discovery Park, we will be undertaking re-lining works following the conclusion of our repairs at the Quay. We expect our work to begin in mid-July for 2 -3 weeks. The road will remain open throughout however single lane closures will be required to ensure the safety of our workforce and other road users. Further information will be provided in due course.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours – calls charged at local rate) or fill out our online form.

ENDS

(21/05/20) Latest update from Southern Water – Making progress on sewer repairs in Sandwich

We’re making good progress with our emergency repair works in central Sandwich, near the Quay.

Our teams continue to follow the advice and recommendations from the Government and health authorities to ensure that they are able to continue working safely while respecting social distancing measures.

We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carry out this essential work.

What’s happening ?

We’ve drilled two new independent river crossings in central Sandwich, near the Quay; one to replace the damaged Bulwark main, serving Sandwich, and a second to provide additional resilience for the Golf Road main, serving Deal, which also runs underneath the river.

Subject to suitable weather conditions, we are expecting to make the connections between the existing and new pipe lines during the first two weeks of June. In order to enable the connections to take place, the pumping station will need to be shut down for a period of up to 36 hours for each connection (north and south), during which we will need to use tankers to manage flows.

We will be using up to 15 tankers during each shutdown period so there will be a noticeable increase in activity during the period 1^st - 15^th June when the connections takes place.

A letter is being sent to all Sandwich residents to raise awareness of the increase in tanker traffic on the town’s roads, accompanied by supporting media and social messaging. We continue to host a dedicated page on our website here

We will continue to implement measures for minimising the impact of the tankers when they are needed – using as few as possible, keeping them out of the town when possible, and imposing a strict 20mph speed limit (10mph overnight).

Completing our works

Despite significant changes to working practices brought about by the current situation, and a number of unexpected delays encountered along the way, our teams have been working extremely hard to maintain progress and complete the installation of the new pipelines as quickly as possible.

Subject to any further unforeseen delays, or long periods of inclement weather, we expect to complete our works by early July with full demobilisation by mid-July.

Supporting customers during Covid-19

We’ve expanded the support available for customers during the current pandemic. These measures are in addition to the support we already offer. For further information, please see the attached pdf or visit our website here.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours – calls charged at local rate) or fill out our online form.

ENDS

(27/04/20) Latest update from Southern Water - Ongoing emergency sewer repairs in and around Sandwich

We’re making good progress with our emergency repair works in central Sandwich, near the Quay.

We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding while we carry out this essential work.

What’s happening ?

Central Sandwich, near the Quay – We’ve drilled two new independent river crossings; one to replace the damaged Bulwark main, serving Sandwich, and a second to provide additional resilience for the Golf Road main, serving Deal, which also runs underneath the river.

Latest update:

Due to the inclement weather expected over the next few days, there will be an increase in tanker activity in the Sandwich area.
We will have 10 tankers on standby to manage additional wastewater flows in the Sandwich area
We will continue to implement measures for minimising the impact of the tankers – using as few as possible, keeping them out of the town when possible, and imposing a strict 20mph speed limit (10mph overnight)
Work is progressing well on site and we are currently preparing to make the first connections between the existing and new pipe lines. This will be delayed until a period of drier weather is predicted.

A256 by Discovery Park – The southbound carriageway of the A256 fully re-opened on Sunday 29^th March.

Latest update:

Further re-lining works, which will provide additional resilience to the two pipes running underneath the road, will take place following the conclusion of our repairs at the Quay.

Keep updated

Further updates are being provided via our social media channels and a dedicated page on our website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

Supporting customers during Covid-19

Please feel free to share the attached PDF / jpeg image, either via your social media or website, or directly with people you think may benefit from extra help.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours – calls charged at local rate) or fill out our online form.

(29/03/20) Update from Southern Water re. Southbound Carriage of A256

We are pleased to confirm that the southbound carriageway of the A256, which has been closed since December 2019, has been fully re-opened this evening.

A single land closure remains on the northbound carriageway to enable further re-lining works which will provide additional resilience to the two pipes running underneath the road.

Work continues in central Sandwich, near the Quay. Whilst continuing good progress is dependent upon the evolving Covid-19 situation, our repairs are currently progressing as expected.

We’ll continue to provide regular updates via social media and via the dedicated page on our website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

(10/03/2020) Latest update from Southern Water - Ongoing emergency sewer repairs in and around Sandwich

We’re working hard to repair a number of complex interrelated sewer main bursts in the Sandwich area.

We’re really sorry our repairs are taking longer than we’d hoped and would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst we carry out this essential work.

What’s happening?

A256 by Discovery Park - A sewer main burst under a raised section of the A256, near Discovery Park. Due to the complex nature of the pipe’s location, and the road’s Geogrid construction, specialist engineering was required. We are dedicated to fully reopening the road as soon as possible, however safety is the number one priority

Latest update:

Work is well underway to reinstate the A256
We’re working extended shifts to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

Central Sandwich, near the Quay - A burst on the same sewer, directly under the River Stour. To prevent any wastewater flowing in the river, we’re no longer using this pipe. Instead, a fleet of tankers is working in rotation to remove all wastewater flows from Sandwich. We’re working hard to minimise the impact of the tankers – using as few as possible, keeping them out of the town when possible, and imposing a strict 20mph speed limit (10mph overnight).

Latest update:

Work has begun to bore two new independent river crossings – one to replace the damaged Bulwark main, serving Sandwich, and a second to provide additional resilience for the Golf Road main, serving Deal, which also runs underneath the river.
By re-routing wastewater through another line, we’ve been able to cut down on the number of tanker in Sandwich, except in rainy conditions.

Keep updated

Further updates are being provided via our social media channels and a dedicated page on our website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

We are planning to have weekly drop in sessions at the Sandwich Guildhall from Wednesday 11 March, between 10am and 2pm. The sessions will then continue every Wednesday, between 10am and 2pm until our work in the area has been completed.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours – calls charged at local rate) or fill out our online form.

ENDS

(28/02/2020) Latest update from Southern Water - Ongoing emergency sewer repairs in and around Sandwich

We’re working hard to repair a number of complex interrelated sewer main bursts in the Sandwich area.

We’re really sorry our repairs are taking longer than we’d hoped and would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst we carry out this essential work.

What’s happening?

Latest update:

Our repair works to the burst pipes under the A256 are now complete.
You may have noticed increased traffic movement this week as we mobilised our teams to site to begin road repairs.
We’ll be working extended shifts to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

Latest update:

We plan to bore two new independent river crossings – one to replace the damaged Bulwark main, serving Sandwich, and a second to provide additional resilience for the Golf Road main, serving Deal, which also runs underneath the river.
The main working area will be on the site of the single tennis court at the Quay, which will include clearance of trees and hedging on 28 February. Our work will also take place in the allotment area, adjacent to the tennis courts.
We’re working to limit disruption as much as possible and have listened to the concerns of local land owners and tenants regarding our proposed working areas
‘No waiting’ signage will be in place along Sandown, near the entrance to the tennis courts to allow for larger deliveries to our site compound.
Construction will begin on the 2^nd March, taking up to 10 weeks to complete
We have explored all other options to reduce the need for tankering but at present this will need to remain in place to ensure we can safely remove wastewater flows and protect the environment.

Keep updated

Further updates are being provided via our social media channels and a dedicated page on our website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

Get in touch

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our Customer Service Centre on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours – calls charged at local rate) or fill out our online form.

(26/2/2020) Update from Southern Water - A256 Road Reinstatement Works

Southern Water’s team, working alongside specialist design and geotechnical engineers, are being mobilised today to begin road repairs on the A256. Southern Water will be working extended shifts to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

(13/2/20) update from Southern Water – Ongoing emergency sewer repairs in and around Sandwich

Southern Water are working hard to repair a number of complex interrelated sewer main bursts in the Sandwich area.

Southern Water are really sorry this is taking longer than they had hoped and would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst they carry out this essential work.

What’s happening?

A256 by Discovery Park - Latest update: Repair works to the burst pipes under the A256 are now complete. The northbound carriageway will reopen as soon as Southern Water have removed all plant and equipment. Southern Water are now working with KCC Highways to reopen the southbound carriageway as quickly as possible. Southern Water will communicate a start date for reinstatement as soon as this is agreed.
Central Sandwich, near the Quay - Latest update: Work near the River Stour continues. Due to the location, within a Scheduled Monument, Southern Water are working closely with Historic England to allow Southern Water to drill under the river and lay a new pipe. Permission to drill exploratory boreholes in the area was granted – with timber found during the first drill Southern Water have now paused work and are guided by Historic England on how to proceed (it is believed the timber may be related to a medieval boat previously found and only partially excavated in the area).

Further updates are being provided via Southern Water social media channels and a dedicated page on their website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

Get in touch

Southern Water customer teams have been on hand at the Quay car park in central Sandwich to answer any questions. Dates and times of when they are available are being provided both their website and via their social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

If you need to talk to Southern Water, please give us a call on 0330 303 0368 (24 hours) or fill out their online form.

Update From Southern Water

Southern Water are sorry that they had to reinstate the single lane closure on the northbound carriageway of the A256.

Whilst undertaking surveys to assess the road’s integrity, a further issue has been identified on a second sewer pipe which takes wastewater flows from the Deal area – the two sewer pipes run in parallel underneath the same section of the road. Additional tankers have been brought in to manage wastewater flows and protect the environment whilst Southern Water carry out the necessary repairs. Tanker movements will be most notable at the site of our repairs on the A256 and at Golf Road Wastewater Pumping Station in Deal. There will be no impact on Southern Water ongoing activities near the Quay in Sandwich.

Southern Water expect to complete the additional repairs by the end of the week, following which they will be working closely with KCC Highways to reinstate the road as quickly as possible.

Southern Water are continuing to provide regular updates on the situation via social media updates and a dedicated page on their website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs

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4th February update from Southern Water
Ongoing emergency sewer repairs in and around Sandwich
Southern Water are working hard to repair a number of complex interrelated sewer main bursts in the Sandwich area.
Southern Water are really sorry this is taking longer than we’d hoped and would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding whilst Southern Water carry out this essential work.

What’s happening?

• A256 by Discovery Park - A sewer main has burst under a raised section of the A256, near Discovery Park. Due to the complex nature of the pipe’s location, and the road’s Geogrid construction, specialist engineering is required. Southern Water is working in partnership with Kent County Council highways and are dedicated to fully reopening the road as soon as possible, however safety is the number one priority.
Southern Water have completed our repairs on a damaged section of sewer sitting underneath the A256. Although Southern Water cannot reintroduce pressurised flow to test the repair due to emergency works on the same stretch of pipe under the River Stour, near The Bulwark.

Surveys to assess the road’s integrity are now underway – the results of these surveys will allow Kent County Council Highways to decide on when the road closure can be removed.

• Central Sandwich, near the Quay - A burst on the same sewer pipe, directly under the River Stour. To prevent any wastewater flowing in the river, Southern Water are no longer using this pipe. Instead, a fleet of tankers is working in rotation to remove all wastewater flows from Sandwich. Southern Water is working hard to minimise the impact of the tankers – using as few as possible, keeping them out of the town when possible, and imposing a strict 20mph speed limit (10mph overnight).

Southern Water are preparing to drill under the riverbed to lay a completely new pipe. Due to the location within a Scheduled Monument, Southern Water cannot start major digging until all permissions are in place. Southern Water are working closely with Historic England to get started as soon as possible. Preliminary work is underway.

Southern Water are also exploring a temporary solution which may mean Southern Water can reduce or remove the need for tankers – right now, they are the only way Southern Water can maintain wastewater services and protect the environment.
Southern Water are providing regular updates on the progress of our repairs via social media updates and a dedicated page on our website at: southernwater.co.uk/a256-sewer-repairs
Get in touch
Southern Water customer teams have been on hand at the Quay car park in central Sandwich to answer any questions. Dates and times of when they are available are being provided both on Southern Water’s website and via social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.
If you need to talk to Southern Water, please call 0330 303 0368 (24 hours) or fill out the online form.