What is sewer flooding?
Some of the sewers and drains in Middlewich date back to the Victorian times. Since then, the population has grown as the town expanded. More houses and businesses mean more wastewater going into our pipes and less permeable surfaces for rainwater to drain into. Our climate is also changing leading to longer, heavier periods of rain. These two factors result in the existing sewers and drains not being able to cope at certain times.
When there are heavy rainstorms, too much water goes through the pipes, and the sewers become overloaded. As this happens, wastewater escapes back up through the drains spilling into roads, car parks and homes. We call this sewer flooding.
This has been happening in Middlewich over recent years with certain hot spots subject to sewer flooding on a re-occurring basis. If we do nothing, the situation is likely to get worse over time with more areas being affected more often.
How can we fix this?
There is a solution. This is not a problem unique to Middlewich and our engineering experts have solved this in other parts of the North West. We need to increase the size of some of the sewer pipes and build a tank underground which can store the storm water at peak times and then pump it back into the system when the water has subsided.
Our work in Middlewich
In Middlewich we are carrying out a five stage plan to aliviate sewer flooding in the area, which will include:
- Installation of a below ground storage tank underneath the park area off Chadwich Road, at the junction with Warmingham Lane. Duration 11 months.
- A new larger sewer pipe to run along Booth Lane, duration 6 months.
- A new larger sewer pipe on Cross Lane, duration 6 months.
- A new larger sewer pipe on Warmingham Lane, duration 4 months.
- A new sewer in the fields off Warmingham Lane, duration 10 months
From week commencing Monday 24 August 2009 you will notice an increase in construction related activity in the park area off Chadwick Road, at the junction with Warmingham Lane. Throughout this work we will continue to keep you up date with our progress and will aim to carry out this work with the minimum amount of disruption to you.
Public exhibition
If you could not make our public exhibition held on Thursday 25 June 2009 please click the links below to find some of the information we provided.
To help answer any queries you may have relating to this scheme, our contract partner Balfour Beatty who are carrying out this work on our behalf have allocated a cabin within our site compound, which is located opposite the Turnpike Pub, Chadwick Road. This cabin will be open every Wednesday from 28 October, 10am to 1pm, where a Balfour Beatty Customer Advisor will be on hand to answer your questions.
Road works and diversions
| Road closed |
From |
Duration |
Diversion route |
Extra information |
| Booth Lane from its junction with Cledford Lane/Cross Lane to its junction with Long Lane South. |
01/02/2010 |
Road closure will be removed mid August 2010 |
Click here to view diversion route. |
This phase of work has taken longer than originally anticipated due to us temporarily postponing work for the Folk and Boat festival and a gas main which didn't show up on our records. |
| Cross Lane |
August 2010 |
Completion December 2010 |
A local traffic diversion will be fully signposted on site. |
On completion and re-opening of Booth Lane we will move onto Cross Lane. |
| Warmingham Lane |
16/08/2010 |
2 weeks |
The diversion route during the works will be via Tetton Lane, Booth Lane and Cross Lane. |
Access to properties in this area will be maintained at all times. |
| Warmingham Lane |
January 2011 |
Completion April 2011 |
Traffic management plans subject to approval by local highway authority |
Work due to start after the Christmas 2010 holiday. |