Traffic disruption is to be expected in Yaverland throughout January as Southern Water confirms that works to fix a leaky sewer pipe off Yaverland Road are set to continue for at least the next few weeks.
An issue with the sewage pipe in the area has seen tankers drafted in to carry the waste to the treatment works by road.
The situation is large-scale with no fewer than 5 sewage disposal trucks on standby – 2 parked on the road near the flood site and another 3 in the layby on Marshcombe Shute – around the clock.
Diggers moved in over the Christmas period and are still there 2 weeks later, with a large muddy-coloured puddle appearing in the corner of the field.
To allow heavy machinery easy access to the flooded site, 2-way traffic lights have been temporarily introduced on Yaverland Road, just outside The Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist.
It has now been revealed by Southern Water that repairs could take several weeks, with the disruption caused by the traffic lights set to continue.
This isn’t the first issue involving sewage pipes in the East Wight. Back in early 2021 problems with a pipe at Appley led to lengthy 15-month project and a repair bill of over £7million, whilst the delay to the recent works on Queens Road in Ryde late last year was down to an issue that saw concrete poured into a sewage pipe.
It is understood that the fix at Yaverland should happen overnight but requires suitable weather and specialist resources.
A spokesperson for Southern Water has said:
“We have identified a leak in a sewage pipe in the Yaverland Road area. By using tankers to reduce sewer flows we are minimising any impact on the surrounding environment.
“Plans are in place to carry out a full repair within the next few weeks. Tankers will be required until that work is complete. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to local residents, and are doing everything we can the fix the problem as quickly as possible.”
Sewage on the Island is poor, I would never let loose an Island Company.
In the end it’s always a Mainland firm who puts it right.
Perhaps Southern Water would like to clarify why the tanker shuttle has also been in full flow between St Helens and Sandown works for some time now…
Several weeks? Saw one worker asleep in the truck with his boots off and feet on the dashboard
At least he was at work, and not one of these lazy foookers who choose to work from home !