Southern Water has applied for a 5-month extension to the road and footpath closures in place at Appley in Ryde, suggesting sewer repair works are likely to continue until March next year.
Earlier this month Island Echo exclusively reported that the works that have been taking place at Appley since January would not be completed by the end of October, as originally suggested. Keith Herbert, Southern Water’s Area Manager for the Isle of Wight, said back in April that October – the date of the expiration of the traffic notices – was very much a ‘worst-case scenario’.
However, last week Island Echo also exclusively revealed that although the original sewer collapse has now been repaired, additional questions are emerging regarding the condition of the sewer nearby. It has been discovered that other sections of the 1m-wide pipe are failing.
Project managers must now make a decision on whether to stop working and restore the area – or to extend the works. The extension of the road traffic notices suggests that the latter option is likely to be chosen, bringing 5 more months of disruption for local residents and businesses.
It’s thought that the emergency repairs have cost several millions of pounds to date, with the project having already cost £2.5million back in April. It’s known that the pumping equipment costs around £25,000 a week to hire alone.
Then make the most of it and do some school trips to learn about the engineering that is going on. I know a few kids that would love to see and learn about it.
In some countries, i hear on the news, they have a criminal investigation to establish if dodgy concrete was used in the construction of whatever failed, fell, or collapsed. I understand it’s about 30 years old. Many brick lined Railway tunnels, not to mention sewers, have lasted far longer in challenging geology i suspect. So built late 1980s early 1990s, who did that then?
A further delay? WIth Southern water involved? No way, who would have thought it!
And come March they will want another five months, it is about time they were forced to compensate the council for the lost parking income and the affected business for their loss of trade, all these companies should be licensed for a specific time period to carry out any works and penalised if they overrun, they should also be penalised for road closures that are not necessary and for any works blocking roads which are having no work carried out.