Southern Water is continuing with its multi-million investment in the infrastructure of Ashford to ensure the future growth of the town can be accommodated.

The next phase in the programme of work is to install more than four kilometres of sewers from Waterbrook, through the Willesborough area of the town, to Southern Water’s wastewater treatment works in Canterbury Road.

This new pipeline will support future developments in the Cheeseman’s Green and Waterbrook areas of Ashford, an important stage in the growth of the town.

The improvement works the company will be carrying out in Ashford are vital to allow for further development of the town.

Southern Water’s contractor 4Delivery (4D) will be installing the new sewer and the work is expected to complete by late Spring 2010.

4D has been working closely with the council to plan the route of the sewer.

Three temporary site compounds to hold construction materials and welfare facilities for the workforce will be placed at Maruwa on the Boulevard in the Orbital Busines Park, in part of the play area of Hunter Avenue and a third compound at the end of Cradlebridge Drive.

As well as the installation of the sewer, two pumping stations will be located at Waterbrook Avenue and at the end of Alsops Road which will allow the wastewater to be pumped on to the treatment works for recycling.

While the pumping stations have been designed to be hidden underground some equipment relating to the operation of the pumping station, to include a standby generator, electrical substation and control kiosk, will be built above ground. This work will take about six months to complete.

Part of the sewer will be installed below Hythe Road and Southern Water will use specialist ‘no dig’ technology to avoid disrupting traffic flows on this important commuter road.

Health and safety is a priority, so careful management of the traffic and pedestrian walkway is required and Southern Water will be working closely with the local council and the community during the work to ensure construction traffic does not adversely impact congestion on the local roads.

Southern Water has been carrying out improvement works in Ashford in a phased approach to minimise disruption to the local communities.

The Southern Water work already completed includes:

• Upgrading Ashford Wastewater Treatment Works to enable it to treat more wastewater (£8m).
• Improvements to the sludge treatment works to enable sewage sludge to be treated so it can be safely recycled to farmland and improvements to the odour control facilities (£34m).