Work under way to cut risk of flooding

May 13 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal

FLOOD prevention work costing hundreds of thousands of pounds is under way in a Northumberland town.

Northumbrian Water is investing £330,000 to upgrade 200 metres of sewer pipe in Haltwhistle to reduce the risk of flooding to properties in Greenholme Road.

The organisation said that the pipe was being upgraded because in times of heavy rainfall, the sewerage network struggled to cope with the volume of water, resulting in the flooding of a number of houses in the road.

Danny Coyne, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said: “Reducing the risk of property flooding is one of Northumbrian Water’s priorities and we do appreciate that flooding causes customers distress. We are working closely with Northumberland County Council to carefully plan required traffic management and diversions. Everything will be done to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.”

The traffic disruption will include a rolling road closure on Greenholme Road and restricted parking, although access to all properties will be maintained.

Tynedale district councillor David Hardy said that although the work would be inconvenient to traffic, it was good news.

He said: “Hopefully it will go towards helping the situation in Greenholme Road, where there have been problems with flooding in the past. There is also a bad problem in The Mart, which can only be about 100 yards away, so it might help with that too. It is good to see that they are doing some work and it is helpful – it is a case of more of the same, please.”

Last summer The Journal reported how several elderly residents had to be evacuated from their homes in The Mart after heavy rainfall caused their home to flood. Some of those people have only recently been able to return.

The improvement programme, which will take up to four months to complete, is part of Northumbrian Water’s £400m programme to upgrade its 16,000km sewerage network serving the North East.

A spokesman for the company added: “It is very unlikely that anyone from the water company will need to gain access into customers’ homes while the work is being carried out in Haltwhistle.

“Access may be required to manholes located on private land. If customers are in any doubt of a caller claiming to be from the water company, they should not let them into their home.

“They should ring the company’s customer centre on 0845 717-1100 to confirm the caller’s identity.”