Dozens of tankers have been drafted in to move East Cowes’ waste following the burst of a main sewer in the town. The incident reported by utility company Southern Water has caused the closure of both Newbarn Road and Old Road, with repair work now underway and a diversion put in place. The company has said no environmental damage has been caused by the burst due to wastewater being diverted directly back into the sewer network. Southern Water has brought a number of tankers into action to minimise pollution. The vehicles will manage wastewater flows between the site of the burst and its Springhill and Albany Road sites. A spokesperson for Southern Water has said:
“We belive the repair will be complete within 48 hours once it begins, and we apologise for any disruption this work and the tanker movements may cause to homes and businesses in the area.”
Councillor Karl Love, Chair of the Isle of Wight Council and local councillor for East Cowes, has said the repair work would not be a ‘quick fix’ and would likely last for the rest of the week and possibly over the weekend. He added the road had to be dug up and the sewer pipe replaced, with a safety fence installed across New Barn Road to mark a workspace. 
The incident comes amid a busy events schedule this week at Osborne House including horse event All the Queen’s Horses, and Punch and Judy. English Heritage said a diversion is in place for All the Queen’s Horses event parking and advised visitors to follow road signs. Councillor Love adds:
“This is one of the main sewer pipes which pumps sewage across the Island to the treatment factory at Sandown and the pipe, like other pipes, has fractured and needs replacing – it’s not a small job. “I will try to keep you updated and I’m sorry for the disturbance which this is going to be causing because they need to be running 24/7; otherwise the alternative is to pump all the sewage out into the Solent and we don’t want that.”
York Avenue is also currently closed for utility repair and maintenance works, with Southern Water estimating completion by Thursday night.
That pipe was only installed 25 years ago… & runs from east Cowes all the way to Sandown (Yaverland)
How long before it starts to fail in other places???
What a load of s@&t
well it beats talking about Red funnel ,Or the fact that the post office shop has closed now have to find a parking spot at Osborn garage site , Though best to book a service!!!!! Even better go and support the couple who run the pub then into post office. What next scooter weekend
The island is full of sh@T, have you not seen the
Poo Museum in Sandown
Lol
I counted 30 tankers this morning at 7:45. How much must that cost?
I see a load of Tankers everyday on the island
If you’d have voted reform, none of this would have happened.
Too late now.
You definitely need to get a life – Election was over a month ago. See you in the next 4-5 years at the next election.
Sea-Y is deluded.
Reform are History, get used to it.
Why on earth would you close off the seafront during the holiday season? Surely you can find somewhere more appropriate to park them
Just popped down to East Cowes Esplanade tonight, what absolute chaos. The road has been blocked completely in 2 places restricting pretty much any safe access onto the Esplanade. Large vehicles manoeuvring dangerously, road closures restricting access to the cafe. All this in the height of tourist season.
Whoever sanctioned these vehicles to park and obstruct the esplanade needs sacking. I realise they may have to empty their cargo in the water system at the front but there is an empty carpark just behind the esplanade perfectly suitable for stacking these vehicles whilst they empty. In short the esplanade is barely usable whilst heavy vehicle movements are taking precedent over pedestrians, tourist, cars, etc ad infinitum.