After 15 months and a staggering £7million spend, work to repair a collapsed sewer at Appley in Ryde has finally been completed with the area reinstated and reopened to the public.
It was in January 2021 that a major sewer collapsed some 10 metres underground, resulting in a sinkhole forming. Southern Water spent weeks investigating the issue and then the true scale of the situation become apparent.
Emergency pumping equipment was drafted in and the whole area was largely shut down as engineers worked to dig down and repair the 40-year-old pipe which carries all of Ryde and Seaview’s wastewater. The car park was closed and pedestrian access restricted, which significantly impacted on local businesses.
Further investigations revealed some potential weaknesses in the immediate area so the decision was taken to carry out preventative works after the initial collapse was dealt with – adding to the length of the project.
Although the original sewer collapse was repaired by October, it has taken another 5 months for the additional works to be completed and for the area to be reinstated to how it was before.
Motorists can once again access Appley Car Park and enjoy a stroll along the Esplanade unhindered with all paths reopened.
There is still some small, minor works in the area but nothing that prevents access to the public with road closures signs removed. Southern Water says that everything should be fully completed by Monday 11th April.
It has been revealed to Island Echo that the project has cost a massive £7million.
Made my day to see it open. Looking forward to coming home later this year!
Thought this was this April Fools
Why does it still smell at the sinkhole?
15 months and £7 million to repair what is basically a few metres of sewer pipe? Yes, I know it’s 10 metres down, but 15 MONTHS? I can’t believe that any other town or city in the UK would put up with that timescale and level of disruption. It’s almost like workmen come over here and see it as some kind of holiday. If this was a London street the job probably would have been done and dusted in a week.
And it’s not just Appley, it’s every project on the Island. Everything seems to take an extraordinary length of time that would simply be unacceptable elsewhere.
And Cowes green gets the flower beds turfed over and children’s play parks with a foot of uncut grass in them. Well done iow council.
Is the cafe open again?