Splashing the cash to ease flood fears

A FURTHER £400, 000 has been invested in Alcester’s flood defences as part of an ongoing scheme of improvement in the town.

Severn Trent has started the replacement of the sewage main, connecting in the north of the town to the sewage treatment plant at Oversley.

The work involves the provision of 1.3km of new pipe to replace a long failing system that has burst on a number of occasions.

The failures are due to the pressures placed upon the system by flood water entering the existing failing pipe work.

County councillor Mike Gittus has driven the improvements in the town’s flood infrastructure since the disastrous floods of 2007.

Cllr Gittus said: "We have been pressing Severn Trent to undertake this work for several years after a number of serious pipe bursts on the old system caused disruption to the residents of Alcester and Oversley. I am very pleased that Severn Trent are taking the steps and making the investment to alleviate this long standing problem.”

Alcester Town Councillor Mark Cargill said: "I live in Oversley and the disruption caused by sewage tankers moving waste water throughout the town each time there has been a burst has placed a regular strain on the community. I have an engineering background and I appreciate the issues involved in this type of large scale engineering works."

Ben Bladen, the site agent for the contract, is pleased with the progress of the work. He confirmed that he continued to update and liaise with local residents and was on schedule to complete the works by the start of July.