February update

We’re starting work from 18th March 2024

We will be starting the road and pavement reinstatement work from Monday 18 March 2024. The welfare cabins and some equipment may start arriving from Monday 11 March. The work will start at the far end of West Way. The programme is due to take about 33 weeks. However, the drying time for concrete is affected significantly by the weather, so it may take longer.

Your Questions Answered

Timescales and Start Location

When will you be starting the work?

Work will start during the week commencing Monday 18 March but you may see us setting up the compound and bringing equipment to site the week before.

Where will you be starting the work first?

We will be starting at the most westerly end of West Way, near numbers 122-165.

How do I know when you are starting outside of my property?

We will knock on your door about 5-7 days before we start any work near your home. We have a rolling programme working eastwards from the banjo end of West Way.

How long will the work take?

The programme of work is due to take 33 weeks. However, the curing time for concrete is affected significantly by the weather so it may take longer than this.

What new pavement will look like

What will my new pavement look like?

We will replace the existing pavement with a brand-new concrete one, like for like.  You can see in the picture below, we are going to follow the line of the true footways, so the section in the black box will be the new pavement.

Can I ask Barhale or C. J. Thornes to do some private wok for me?

Sorry, no. The site team have a contract which does not allow them to offer, or accept, private work.

Can I have a dropped kerb?

We will replace like for like. We will not lower kerbs or gully covers.

How to contact us in an emergency

In an emergency or out of work hours, who do I call?

If you have any problems with the site during the evening, night, or weekends, please call 0330 3030 368 to report it. The capital comms email address is only monitored Monday to Friday during office hours

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How the work might affect you

How will I get in and out of my property if the concrete is wet?

We will put in pedestrian ramps so that you can get to your front door. If you have any questions our site team will be able to help you.

How will I park on my driveway if the concrete is wet?

It is advisable not to drive over the wet concrete for a week. We will let you 5-7 days before we start work when you need to move your car off your driveway. The site team will be able to help you carry things from your car, assist with any deliveries or collections, if you need help when we are working outside your home.

Where can I and my visitors park?

We’ll give you plenty of warning when you will not be able to park on your drive. There will be some space on the road as we are working in 100m sections. Some residents have told us that they will be happy to share their driveways with their neighbours to support the community while we do this work.

How many people will be working outside of my property?

There will be three teams working in various areas.  Most of the vehicles will be parked in the compound. However, there will be some vehicles near the working area, as the first aid kit and some equipment must be kept close by.

How will I get my wheelie bins out or get my deliveries?

When we are working outside your home the site team will help with wheelie bin & deliveries/collections, if you need assistance.

I don’t want my pavement done any more.

You can opt out. Please email Denise at [email protected] and we will remove you from the list. We must know by Friday 8 March 2024.

I am having some work done at my house which may impact your work, what shall I do?

Please let us know as soon as you can, so we can co-ordinate this with our work.

Noise and Equipment

Will the work be noisy?

There will be some noise when we are removing the existing concrete and creating a bed for the new concrete to lie on. It won’t be noisy all day, every day.

What machinery will they be using to carry out the work?

We anticipate we will be using a 13-ton wheeled excavator with a breaking attachment. In addition, there will be a 9-ton excavator and a 6-ton forward tipping dumper and road saw.

Contractor Information

Who is doing the work?

Barhale and their sub-contractors C. J. Thornes.

Where will the compound be?

It will be in the field at the end of West Avenue. There will be welfare facilities for the site team and parking for their vehicles. They will not be parking on your streets, except for one or two vans. This is because the first aid kit must be kept near the workforce. There will be security on site overnight.

Happy New Year – We’re coming back in March.

We’re pleased to share the news that our new contractors Barhale and their sub-contractors Thornes Civil Engineers, will be starting the road and pavement work in March 2024.

What happens next?

You may have seen us on site with our new contractors. This was so they could take photos and videos of the current condition of the road and pavement.

Our new contractor, Barhale/Thornes have since returned to site to carry out coring work. They have taken about 10 samples of the concrete in the road and some footpath areas.

Update on Surveys

We do not anticipate the work will affect your property in any way. However, we’ll be offering a condition survey to 152 properties identified by specialist consultants who will be closest to our work. The survey will provide homeowners with information on the condition of their property before we start any road or pavement work. It will be carried out by an independent Chartered Building Surveyor.

If you have been identified by the consultants, you will receive a separate letter to explain this by the end of January 2024.

Questions and Answers

We’ll work with Barhale and Thornes to provide you with as much information as to what to expect when we start on site. We’ll send you another letter in February with a question and answer sheet attached.

Flooding and reporting issues

We understand the West Beach Estate has experienced a lot of surface water and volumes of rainfall recently. If you experience any issues with things like your water meter, blockages, smells or any other operational issues please call 0330 303 0368 where the appropriate job can be raised. 

We’re sorry but the Capital Communications team can’t do this for you. It will need to be the person who is experiencing the issue. The call has to be logged in this way so the right person for the job can attend and therefore it can be tracked by our regulators and our business.

Jetting is underway!

We’re continuing to make our way through the estate jetting the storm drains, we’ve completed approximately 30%. The work has been influenced by the tides and volume of rain we have recently had and we are working around this.

Please may we ask that you keep the drains clear from any obstructions while we continue the work.

Here are some up to date photos of the work.

Road & Pavement Reinstatement

We’ll be writing to the residents on the West Beach Estate, including the side roads to explain when we’ll start on site. We’ll also include a Question and Answer of what to expect when the work starts in March 2024.

Surveys

We do not anticipate the work will affect your property in any way. However, we’ll be offering a condition survey of properties identified by the consultants within the zone of influence of the work. It will be carried out by an independent Chartered Building Surveyor.

If you have been identified by the consultants, you will receive a separate letter to explain this by the end of January 2024.

Flooding and reporting issues

We understand the West Beach Estate has experienced a lot of surface water and volumes of rainfall recently. If you experience any issues with things like your water meter, blockages, smells or any other operational issues please call 0330 303 0368 where the appropriate job can be raised. 

We’re sorry but the Capital Communications team can’t do this for you. It will need to be the person who is experiencing the issue. The call has to be logged in this way so the right person for the job can attend and therefore it can be tracked by our regulators and our business.

Next update will be posted at the beginning of January.

Jetting is underway!

We’re making our way through the estate jetting the storm drains.

Please may we ask that you keep the drains clear from any obstructions so we can continue the work.

Here are some photos of the current work:

Reporting any other water or waste issues!

If you are experiencing any issues with things like your water meter, sewage, smells or any other operational issues please call 0330 303 0368 where the appropriate job can be raised.

We’re sorry but the Capital Communications team can’t do this for you. It will need to be the person who is experiencing the issue. The call has to be logged in this way so the right person for the job can attend and therefore it can be tracked by our regulators and our business.

Reinstatement letters to homeowners

On 27 September 2023, Capital Comms team and the Project Manager hand delivered letters to each household explaining what work is going to take place outside of their property.

We are coming back on 10 October 2023 with our Incident Van as a drop-in centre to answer any questions that you may have. We’ll be parked up on the corner of West Way and The Broadway between 10am to 7pm. Please do come and see us!

Reporting any other water or waste issues!

If you are experiencing any issues with things like your water meter, sewage, smells or any other operational issues please call 0330 303 0368 where the appropriate job can be raised. 

We’re sorry but the Capital Communications team can’t do this for you. It will need to be the person who is experiencing the issue. The call has to be logged in this way so the right person for the job can attend and therefore it can be tracked by our regulators and our business.

Wastewater Charges

Some customers have contacted us about the reduction in their wastewater charges saying that they still haven’t receive it. We recently moved from six monthly billing to annual billing therefore, your payment may still be pending. This will be deducted off your next bill.

If you have any questions relating to your bill, please speak to our billing team on 0330 303 0368.

You can also sign up to Your Account - Southern Water to provide you access to your account online.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What will the new pavement look like in West Way & Orient Road?

We will replace the existing pavement with a brand new concrete, like for like.

2. Can I have a dropped kerb?

We will replace like for like. If you don’t currently have a dropped kerb, we will not be redesigning the layout to allow for a new dropped kerb.

3. How long will the work take?

The programme of work is due to take 37 weeks. However, the drying time for concrete is affected significantly by the weather so it may take longer.

Concrete cannot be poured in the rain so there may be days when work may not go ahead or have to stop. This could result in a delay to the programme and the works taking longer.

4. How can I get in and out of my home?

The pavements outside your property will be constructed in a way that there will be pedestrian access. We will use footway boards and make necessary arrangements to ensure access.

We will inform you a minimum of 3 days ahead of work being undertaken outside your property. We’ll tell you more details nearer the time.

5. Will my property need surveying?

We do not anticipate the work will affect your property in any way. However, we’ll be offering a condition survey of properties identified by the consultants within the zone of influence of the work. It will be carried out by an independent Chartered Building Surveyor.

If you have been identified by the consultants, you will receive a separate letter to explain this by the end of January 2024.

6. Where will the compound go?

It will be in the field at the end of West Avenue. There will be welfare facilities for the site team and parking for their vehicles.

7. Who will be doing the work?

G J Steeles will be doing the work.

8. I don’t want a new pavement; can I opt out?

Of course, please email [email protected] by 31^st December 2023 and we will remove you from the list.

9. How will the work affect me?

There will be some construction noise. We expect there to be give way signs on West Way and Orient Road to keep everyone safe while the road works are happening. We’ll tell you more details nearer the time.

10. Will you be doing my driveway?

We’re replacing the concrete footpaths, including where they cross in front of a driveway. Like in the photo below. We will not carry our any work on your driveway.

11. Will there be compensation?

On 17^th January 2023, Katy Taylor (Chief Customer Officer) met with Chris Drew, Chair of West Beach Residents Association and committed to investing over half a million pounds in your community by replacing all the footpaths along West Way & Orient Road, repairing extra sections of the roads, jetting the drains, and removal of wastewater charges. There will be no further compensation for the whole community.

12. Who can I speak to if I have more questions?

Pop and see us on site between 10am and 7pm, Tuesday 10 October alternatively you can email us at [email protected]

We're updating you on the road and pavement work

Thank you for your patience. We’re sorry it’s taking time to resolve a number of issues relating to the ownership of the road, the new compound location and logistical matters to do with the programme order.

The work will now start in Spring 2024.

We’ve explained in more detail why this is later in the letter. We’ve listened to your feedback and there is more preparation work that we need to do to mimimise your inconvenience when the construction work starts.

Please be reassured no more work is needed to the sewer along West Way and Orient Road, however, earlier this year we backfilled the pits and have provided a temporary road surface. We now need to come back to permanently reinstate the surface and improve the pavements.

If you live on Brighton Road, there is no more work relating to this project that will affect you so this is the last update to you.

What happens next?

Why is the work starting next year?

1.Based on recent customer feedback, we have taken the decision to delay the start of the road work until Spring next year. We know you might be disappointed by this.

Customers told us, in our recent survey work, that they were concerned about surface water flooding during winter. We know the area is vulnerable to this and that this would increase the concrete curing time. We recognise how frustrating it is when the programme is delayed, or when work has to stop, due to the weather.

2.In addition, customers have told us they are worried about the effect of vibrations (from breaking out the concrete) on their homes. We are working with an external consultant to understand the impact the works may have on the surrounding area. We’ll be offering an internal and external condition survey of properties identified by the consultants within the zone of influence of the work. We’ll carry these out before we start.

3.We don’t want to put the site compound back on the corner of Broadway/Orient Road so we have been looking for a different location. We need to carry out environmental surveys and it is likely that we will need to apply for planning permission. This would not be granted before winter.

Keeping you updated

1.Sign up for email updates!

To save you time looking for updates on the web, we can email you the latest information. We’ll do this once a month when the website update is published. Simply send us your name, property address and email address to [email protected] and we’ll add you to the list. Your data will only be used for this purpose and will not be shared with any third parties.

2.Monthly updates on the web

We’ll update our website and your West Haven facebook page at the end of each month. When we start on site these updates will become more regular.

Lancing sewer pipe lining works (southernwater.co.uk)

3.Staff on site

Denise and Nicole from the Capital Projects Customer Team will be on site at the end of September and the beginning of October. Dates and times will be sent to you in the next letter and will be published in the monthly updates.

4. Email us

Email the Capital Projects Customer Team at [email protected]. Please include PRN 779013 in the subject line so your enquiry reaches the right person more quickly. We’ll always respond within 5 working days, but usually less

We would like to thank you for your patience whilst we plan this essential work.

Update 23^rd May 2023

Sewer pipe lining progress

Re-instatement progress

Community Legacy

On 17^th January, Katy Taylor met with Chris Drew, Chair of West Beach Residents Association and committed to investing over half a million pounds in the community through extra repairs to the footpaths and roads, jetting the drains, and removal of wastewater charges.

1. Removal of wastewater charges

All affected customers have been written to and we have adjusted their bills.

2. Jetting the drains

The first drains, in Orient Road, will be jetted in the next one to two weeks time. We want to carry out most of this work before we do the footpaths and roads.

There will be some noise while the truck is jetting and sucking. It will sound a bit like an engine running on high revs. We’re not sure how long it will take as it will depend on how much grit there is in the pipes.

3.  Roads

We committed to reinstating the pits and the adjacent bays. You may have seen blue crosses appearing on the road. This is to enable conversations with contractors and subcontractors. It is not a final list of work to be carried out.

We are still working with the management company and contractors to establish the programme and ways of working. It is even more complicated than anticipated, we need to investigate methods that minimise any vibrations when the concrete is dug out.

We would like to prepare the community that when we start work there will be significant disruption along the road as the concrete will take at least 7 days (maybe more) to gain strength to be used. To keep everyone safe, we’ll need to narrow the road around each bay that is being worked on.

4. Footpaths

We have taken photos of all the footpaths and will be writing to each householder in the next 6-8 weeks to explain what will be happening in front of their property. Each householder will get a letter specific to their needs as some pavements have already been replaced. We anticipate the footpath work will be carried out after the roads have been completed.

Contact us

Denise is now back to work, you can email us at [email protected] quoting reference PRN 779013 or call the Call Centre out of hours on 0330 3030 368 saying your ringing about a Capital Project with Project Reference Number (PRN)779013.

West Way/Orient Road

This week we are continuing to temporarily reinstate using foam concrete, type 1 and tarmac. We will also start to remove any barriers, cones and signs that are no longer needed, so that you can use the road again.

• Pit 1 & 4 - Foam concrete in, next step type 1 & tarmac.
• Pit 5 – Completed.
• Pit 6 - Not started, will be started next week.
• Pit 7 and between pit 5 and 6 - Foam concrete & type 1 already in, tarmac next.

Wastewater charges

Our accounts team are working through the processing of wastewater charges. They have completed 85% and are working on the rest.

West Way/Orient Road

As you are all aware, the road along West Way/Orient road is not a standard construction technique. It is taking longer than we hoped to organise all the things we need to start the footpath, and pit reinstatement work. This includes the way the road is owned and having the right sub-contractor to do the job.

We don’t want you to wait any longer, so we are going to fill in the pits with a temporary fix of foam concrete, type 1 and tarmac so that you can use the road again. It will be dug out and replaced when we do the long term, proper reinstatement. We expect to start work at Pit 1 next week and work our way along the road but we are still looking at
the programme so the order might change.

We will carry on working hard to get the proper reinstatement organised. As soon as we have a timescale for this work, we will share it with you.

Other work - week commencing 6th February

We continue to work in the Wenceling cottages area. We’ll finish removing the over pumping in the field. We’ll make this good in the Spring when the ground conditions are right to do so.

Contact us

Your contact, Denise, will unfortunately be absent for another week or so. The Capital Comms Team is covering her work, so you’ll always get a reply. We’re sorry but it might take us a little bit longer than normal to get back to you. You can email us at [email protected] quoting reference PRN 779013 or call the Call Centre out of hours on 0330 3030 368 saying your ringing about a Capital Project with Project Reference Number (PRN)779013.

Work week commencing 23^rd January.

All the pits in the Wenceling Cottages area have now been filled in. We’re going to move the over pumping pipework from New Salts Farm Road area this week.

The topsoil is coming this week for the compound area and the fencing will be going.

West Way/Orient Road 

As you are all aware, the road along West Way/Orient road is not a standard construction technique. We are investigating using a different sub contactor who has specialist knowledge. This is because we are now going to be doing more reinstatement work than just the pits.

We have also committed to the fixing the broken parts of the footpaths along both roads, even the parts where it was not our responsibility. This will give the community a continuous and safe footpath. It will, however, take a bit of time to organise because of the various permissions we need.

Contact us

Your contact, Denise, will unfortunately be absent for a couple of weeks. The Capital Comms Team is covering her work, so you’ll always get a reply. We’re sorry but it might take us a little bit longer than normal to get back to you.

You can email us at [email protected] quoting reference PRN 779013 or call the Call Centre out of hours on 0330 3030 368 saying your ringing about a Capital Project with Project Reference Number (PRN)779013.

Work on the West Way/Orient Road

Following feedback at the public meeting, we have been looking into what else we able to do to help improve the unadopted roads.

At our internal meeting last week (12/1/23) it was agreed, we will be fixing and improving all the footpaths that are true footpaths along West Way and Orient Road. We have also committed to putting back the pits and fixing any adjacent bays. This is in addition to work we have already promised to carry out after the bursts.

Community Legacy

Overall, we’re investing over half a million pounds in the community through extra repairs to the footpaths & roads, jetting the drains, removal of wastewater charges, and goodwill gestures to those most affected.

When will work begin on fixing the road/footpaths?

We need to involve our legal team in discussions before we can start on the footpaths because of the way they are owned and maintained. We will work with residents to make sure we have all the right permissions before we start.

We are working on the programme for the road and pits and will share it with you as soon as possible.

Work week commencing 16^th January.

We are filling in the pits and doing the other reinstatement work in the Wenceling Cottages area.

The compound, on the corner of Orient Road, is returning to normal. We have removed any equipment that is no longer needed, and we’re fixing the footpath and grass.

We have started working on the three pumping stations along Brighton road, clearing away any equipment and fixing any defects. 

Contact us

You can email us at [email protected] quoting reference PRN 779013 or call the Call Centre out of hours on 0330 3030 368 saying your ringing about a Capital Project with Project Reference Number (PRN)779013.

Happy New Year!

We’ll be back on-site early January to start the reinstatement work. We’re starting work in the Wenceling Cottages area.

We have an internal meeting next week to discuss the order for filling the pits back in. We’ll be able to give you more details once we have finalised the plan. This means there will be no newsletter next week.

Next newsletter will be online by Friday 20^th January 2023.

Tankers on West Way/Orient Road

There are 3 tankers still in the area to prevent any flooding from groundwater.

Contact us

Our Customer team are back from their Christmas break and you can email us at [email protected] quoting reference PRN 779013.

Our website for any further updates can be found on the noticeboards on the estate and using our website link Lancing sewer pipe lining works (southernwater.co.uk)

If you have a water or wastewater emergency, please call us immediately on 0330 303 0368 so we can help.

We’re still on track!

We’re working on the final connections this week, so that we can turn the last pumping station back on. We are still on track to have the last tankers gone from the Brighton Road by Christmas.

Tankers on West Way/Orient Road

We’ll need to keep about three tankers available along West Way and Orient Road. These are to pump out the groundwater that comes in on the high tide, or if we have any heavy rain over Christmas/New Year.

Next update – 6^th January 2023

We’ll be back on-site early January to start the reinstatement work.  We’ll send out the next customer update by 6^th January to let you know what we’re doing and when.

Contact us

The Customer Team, for this construction project, will be taking a break over Christmas. We’ll be back on 3^rd January and will reply to your emails by the end of the week.

Southern Water are still here to help you if you need us more urgently. You can contact us via the webpage at Contact Us to get in touch (southernwater.co.uk).

If you have a water or wastewater emergency, please call us immediately on 0330 303 0368 so we can help.

Thank you for your patience this year

We know this has been a really hard year for everyone affected by the construction work or the tanker operations. Thank you for your patience.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We’re still on track!

Last week we lined and cured the pipe from Pit 11, through Pit 12, to Wenceling Pumping Station. This week we’ll be working on the connections and getting it working. We are still on track to have the pumping station back on before Christmas and the tankers gone from the Brighton Road.

Letter about the removal of wastewater charges

At the public meeting in November, Katy Taylor, our Chief Customer Officer promised the residents affected by the sewer relining work and the tankers that we would remove some, or all, of their wastewater charges.

We said we would write to everyone before Christmas to explain how this would happen. Due to the Royal Mail strikes throughout November and December, and the challenges of the Christmas post, we are concerned that the letters won’t reach everyone at the same time. So, we’ve taken the decision to post the letters in the first week of January instead.

This doesn’t change when you will get the charges removed or how much you will get. The letter only explains how you can check your account to see that the adjustment has been made. Thank you for your understanding.

Reinstatement works

We’re working on the plan for the reinstatement work and we’ll share it with you in the new year.

Contact us

To contact us about these relining works, please email the customer team at [email protected]

If Southern Water can help you with something else, please fill in the contact form on our webpage at Contact Us to get in touch (southernwater.co.uk)

Update 6^th December

Good News!

We’ve managed to reduce the number of tankers on the Brighton Road! The traffic management should be gone by the time you read this. If not, it will be going very soon. Hopefully, this will improve things a little bit for everyone using the Brighton Road.

Our operational team have worked hard over the weekend to change some of the valves on the sewer network, so that we can turn the Hasler and Brighton Road pumping stations back on.

Pit 5 to the Pumping station

We need to reconsider how we line this last short section of pipe. So that we can complete the work in the right way we have taken the decision to use the pipe again and reduce the number of tankers. We’re sorry but until we’ve finished this section completely pit 5 will need to stay open.

We’ve surveyed the condition of the pipe and its good. We’ve also replaced the valves in that part of the system. It’s therefore safe to use. We know some of you will be worried that it might burst, but all the evidence shows we’re making the right decision.

When we return to complete the work, we’ll need to use tankers for a short time. We’ll let you know in advance if that’s going to happen. Just like you, we’re hoping it won’t be necessary.

Pit 11, through 12, to Wenceling Pumping Station

We started on this section this week and you may have seen the scaffolding tower going up. Next, we’ll put the liner in, cure it and then connect it in. As soon as this is done the pumping station will be switched back on, and all the tankers will be gone. We are still on target for this to happen before Christmas.

Reinstatement works

We’re working on the plan for the reinstatement work and we’ll share it with you in the new year.

Contact us

Our email address has changed. Please email the customer team at [email protected] from now on. Denise Sandy will still be your point of contact.

Lining works

We’re really sorry due to the continued problems with heavy rain and tides lining between pits 11, through 12, to the pumping station has not progressed as much as we would like.

Week starting 28th November.

There are two weeks of lining work needed to complete the Wencelling sewer. (This is the pipe from Pit1 to Pit 12). We are working hard to organise a new side entry point, across private land, to our pumping station and we are hopeful this will be sorted by the end of this week. We need this before we can finish the work.

We still aim to have this completed by Christmas and the tankers gone.

Longer working hours

We might need to work much later into the evening, near pit 11 and 12, to get the work done. Please be reassured it won’t be every night. We understand this is disruptive for you but it’s one way we can work round the tides and still get the lining work finished before Christmas and the tankers to be gone from the Brighton Road.

Noticeboards

For the next few weeks, we won’t be using the noticeboards because they are being used for other notices. The website page Lancing sewer pipe lining works (southernwater.co.uk) is updated weekly. We always aim to have it done by Thursday evening.

Lining works

Due to the heavy rainfall, stormy weather and high tides last week, we were unable to line between pits 11, through 12, to the pumping station. It needs to be dry inside the pit to put the liner in and we could not achieve that for enough hours to carry out the work.

Week starting 23^rd November.

This week we hope to line from pit 11, to 12, to Wencelling Pumping station. We’re working hard to find a solution so we can line the last bit from Pit 5 to the pumping station.

Tanker engines running - Day time only

You may see some tankers running their engines for 45minutes at times. It won’t be every tanker, or every day.

They are diesel vehicles and they have a diesel particle filter (DPF). This is getting clogged up with soot, and other particles, because it never has time to burn off on the short journeys the tankers are making.

The tankers are fitted with regeneration technology where the vehicle goes through a cycle, at 5000revs, to burn off the soot etc. The cycle has to be completed before the vehicle can be moved again. If the regeneration request is ignored eventually the vehicle breaks down and the cost is huge.

Please be reassured it’s not every lorry and not every day, nor will they carry out this safety maintenance overnight.

We are still aiming for the lining work to be finished before Christmas and the tankers to be gone from the Brighton Road. We still believe there is enough time to achieve this, even with the problems we encountered last week.

Lining works

Last week, we lined between pits 7, 8 and 9. As you can see from the map, we have the last two tricky bits to go, from pit 5 to the pumping station and pit 11, through 12, and on to the Wencelling pumping station.

Last week, we explained that we had to wait for a survey report before we could carry on lining from pit 5 to the pumping station. We’re pleased to say the initial findings have come back. When we have the full report, we’ll work through the recommendations. We hope to be able to move forward next week.

Week starting 14^th November.

This week we’ll be:

• Digging out pit 12, so we can change the pipe size at that point.
• Lining straight through from pit 11 to 12 and on to the Wencelling pumping station.
• If there is time at the end of the week, we’ll put in more of the stubb ends to allow us to connect the pipes together.

Sorry if we have to work late sometimes, we have to adapt our schedule of work with the tides and bad weather.

Public meeting 7^th November

Thank you to all the residents and councillors who came to meet Katy Taylor, Chief Customer Officer, and the team at the public meeting held on 7^th November. You can download the full notes from the meeting from the webpage: Lancing sewer pipe lining works (southernwater.co.uk)

You can read all about Katy’s commitments to the local residents and when the work will be finished.

Thank you to all the residents and councillors who attended the public meeting held on 7^th November at the Ropetackle Centre, Shoreham. Download the meeting notes.

Lining works

Last week, we lined between pits 5, 6 and 7. This means we’ve only got about 90m to go along Orient Road, which should be completed this week. Then there is one last part to the lining work, from pit 12 (in the field) to Wencelling pumping station. 

We’ve also put in more stub ends last week. These allow us to connect the liner to the pipe, so this is another step forward to getting the pipe ready to be used again.

Week starting 7^th November

This week we’ll be:

• Cleaning, preparing, and lining from pit 7 to 8 and 8 to 9 (Monday/Tuesday)
• More connections

Sorry if we have to work late sometimes, we have to adapt our schedule of work with the tides and bad weather.

Next few weeks

We hoped we would have the Hasler (shorter) sewer back in use by 11^th November, but we’ve had some delays with the pits 5a and 5b which mean that’s unlikely.

Our current program of work means we are aiming to have both sewers lined and in use by Christmas. This means all the tankers and traffic management will be gone as well.

We’re organising the land access permits and we expect to be able to dig the last pit where there is a change in pipe size by mid-November. We’ll replace the smaller pipe with a larger one that can fit the liner. Then we can put in the liner and connect it up. The program of work means we should have the Wencelling sewer (the longer one from Pit 1 to Pit 12) back up and running about 3 weeks after we start digging.

Reinstatement works

When we started the work in July, we needed 8 pits. Just like when you carry out a DIY project at home we’ve met challenges. We’ve needed to dig more pits, and now have 15 to reinstate. This will take about 7 weeks. It takes about one week to complete each pit, but the ones in the field are quicker.

We will shut down at Christmas for the weekends and bank holidays, but we will continue to work during the rest of the festive period to get the job done.

It will take another few weeks to completely leave site, including removing the compound and over pumping equipment from the field.

Lining works

Last week, we lined between pits 4-5 on both sewers, which is a total of another 360m of liner in place. We’ve also put in the stub ends at Pit 1 and 2. These allow us to connect the liner to the pipe, so this is another step forward to getting the pipe ready to be used again.

Week starting 31st October

This week we’ll be:

• Cleaning, preparing, and lining from pit 6 to 5.
• Cleaning, preparing, and lining from pit 6 to 7.
• Carrying out the extra work to dig the two new pits, 5a and 5b.

These timescales may still need to be adapted due to tides and weather.

Tankers on the Brighton Road

As you can see on the map, we only need to line from pit 5 down the alleyway to finish the Hasler line. We hope this will be up and working by the middle of November. This will reduce the number of tankers on the Brighton road by nearly half. Sorry, but we’ll need to keep the traffic management until all the pumping stations are back in use.

Invitation to Public Meeting

We hope you’ve received your invitation to meet Katy Taylor, the Chief Customer Officer, and the rest of the team involved in the construction work.

Date: Monday 7^th November 2022

Time: 6-7.30pm

Place: Auditorium, Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham.

We are aware social media posts about flooding where our works are taking place at West Way, Lancing.

This is unrelated to the work going on and is not sewage as the pipe is currently empty and turned off.

We can confirm that this is groundwater flooding that has been caused by a high volume of surface water following heavy rain, along with water from high tides. We expect this type of flooding may continue for the next couple of days due to these factors.

Thank you for your continuing patience. We understand how disruptive this work is and we’re working as quickly as we can to get the liner in.

Lining works

Last week, we lined between pits 10-11. This is less than we hoped for, which is disappointing for all of us. Unfortunately, when we took out the concrete around pit five, we found a bend that is more than 45 degrees. The liner can’t go round this easily.

The way to solve the problem is to dig two extra pits, one by the garages and one within the pumping station grounds. We’re not sure if there will be an effect on the timescales. We’ll know more when we’ve dug the pits.

Week starting 24^th October.

This week we’ll be:

• Cleaning, preparing and lining from pit 5 to 4 on both sewers.
• Digging two new pits.

These timescales may need to be adapted due to tides and weather.

Invitation to Public Meeting

We’ll be holding a public meeting in November for you to come and talk to Katy Taylor, Chief Customer Officer, and the rest of the team. We’ll send you a letter with all the details in the next two weeks.

Lining works -Timeline

We’ve cleaned, lined and cured nearly 800m of new liner now. The map is updated regularly on the website so you can see the progress.

17^th October.

• Cleaning, preparing and lining Pits 5-4
• Cleaning, preparing and lining Pit 5 to the pumping station, through the alleyway.
• Cleaning, preparing and lining Pits 11-10 in the field
• Preparation work on Pits 7-8-9 for next week

These timescales may need to be adapted due to tides and weather. The week after we’ll be lining pits 7-8-9, between pits 4-5 along the Hasler line and starting the connections work.

When will the work be finished?

Our current schedule shows the connections will be made and the new liner will be pressure tested by 11^th November.

The tide times, last week, meant it has taken us two days to line, and then cure, each section of pipe. This has slowed us down, as we can only work through the night in an emergency. It will be the same this week. This means we are going more slowly than we originally planned.

The shorter sewer line should be finished before the 11^th November, then we might be able to reduce the number of tankers on the Brighton Road.

Tankers on the Brighton Road

We understand the distress this delay will cause residents on Brighton Road and the road users. We’ve had a few customer complaints this week. We’ve also had drivers being verbally and physically abused by residents. The current situation is not acceptable for customers or drivers. In the future all abuse will be reported to the police because everyone has the right to be safe.

We spoke with the Managing Director of MTS to see how we can improve things for everyone. We are organising:

• More CCTV on the traffic management and at the pumping stations
• The tanker drivers will have body cams
• More supervisors to make sure all drivers have their engines off and have parked safely.

Customers have told us that the changes Perry put in place on Monday 17^th are already making a difference.

Invitation to Public Meeting

Many of you have asked to meet one of the Directors. We’ll be holding a public meeting in November for you to come and talk to Katy Taylor, Chief Customer Officer, and the rest of the team. We’re just confirming the venue booking and then we’ll send you a letter with all the details.

Lining works -Timeline

We’ve cleaned, lined and cured the new liner between pits 1 and 2 (134m) on both sewers. We’ve also lined from pits 9 to 10 in the field (118m).

These timescales may need to be adapted due to tides and weather.

Curing process 

The tide times, this week, mean it will take us two days to line and cure each section of pipe. We will pull the liner through on day one and cure it on day two. Curing takes 12 hours and once started we can’t stop. We don’t want to disturb residents with the boiling process noise throughout the night so we have split the job over two days.

Some people may have noticed the resin smell during the curing process, but it doesn’t usually linger.

Next steps

We’ll do the connections, test the system and reinstate the road. Once the lining is in, we’ll be able to share the timeframe for that work.

Other improvements in the area

You may see more staff from Southern Water in the coming weeks. The sewer network team are carrying out surveys in and around the alleys to the rear of West Way/Brighton road properties.

They are looking at the gravity sewers to check for signs of sea water infiltration and other defects. There will then be work by our contractors to resolve anything they find.

Keeping you up to date

We’re updating the website every few days to show you the progress with the liner.

Great news! The first liner between pits 9 and 10 has gone in. We’re sorry that there was some noise overnight from pumps as we had keep the pit dry while the pipe cured due to high levels of groundwater at the time.  This means that we may need to use pumps overnight in West Way and Orient Road too. We’ll keep you updated if this needs to happen.

Lining works -Timeline

We’ve cleaned, lined and cured the new liner between pits 1 and 2 (134m) on both sewers. We’ve also lined from pits 9 to 10 in the field (118m).

These timescales may need to be adapted due to tides and weather.

Curing process

The tide times, this week, mean it will take us two days to line and cure each section of pipe. We will pull the liner through on day one and cure it on day two. Curing takes 12 hours and once started we can’t stop. We don’t want to disturb residents with the boiling process noise throughout the night so we have split the job over two days.

Some people may have noticed the resin smell during the curing process, but it doesn’t usually linger.

Next steps

We’ll do the connections, test the system and reinstate the road. Once the lining is in, we’ll be able to share the timeframe for that work.

Other sewer improvements in the area

You may see more staff from Southern Water in the coming weeks. The sewer network team are carrying out surveys in and around the alleys to the rear of West Way/Brighton road properties.

They are looking at the gravity sewers to check for signs of sea water infiltration and other defects. There will then be work by our contractors to resolve anything they find.

Keeping you up to date

We’re updating the website every few days to show you the progress with the liner.

The lining is coming!
This week we’re finishing the last pit in the field and we’re going to start tankering the wastewater so we can prepare the pipe for the liner.

You’ll see lots of activity at pits 1-4 as we dig out the concrete and cut a hole in the pipe to feed the liner through.

Lining works
From 3rd October, there will be four teams working. It’s going to be busy and we’re really sorry for the disruption we understand it’s going to cause.

Teams one and two will be carrying out the lining work. We’re reducing the time it takes, by lining two sections at the same time. We’ll go from pit two to pit one and pit two to pit three at the same time.

While this is happening, the other two crews will be digging out the concrete on the next pits, so they are ready in time.

How will it affect me?

Tankering
We’ll need to use traffic management along the A259 Brighton Road, to keep everyone safe. We’ve sent letters to 5365 households in the local area to let them know in advance.

Noise
There will be the standard construction noise, between 8:00am and 8pm, six days a week. Once the liner goes in, we have to carry on to the end of that section. This means sometimes we’ll need to work an hour earlier, or later, to finish the job. We also have to work with the tide.

We’ll not be working overnight unless there is an emergency.

Parking
Parking is likely to be difficult near the pits we are working on. We understand this will be disruptive but that we are all keen to have a reliable pipeline. You may want to warn visitors that parking will be even more limited. If you’ve got any concerns about this phase of the work do talk to us.

Check before you travel
One.network has all the live traffic management updates across the area.

Starting the lining works
We’re starting work on relining the sewer in the next 2 weeks. Before then, we need to turn off the main sewer and start tankering every day. This is so that we can clean inside the pipe ready for the liner.

Construction works
We have the necessary permission to work on the last pit in the field! You’ll have probably already seen people working in the area starting to clear vegetation and prepare the area. We expect to begin the lining works at the end of September if there are no complications with digging out the remaining pits.

When we start the lining works
We are getting closer to the start of the lining works. This part of the construction project will be noisy and there will be more vehicles in the area. You’ll also see scaffolding up around the pits. We understand this will be disruptive but that we are all keen to have a reliable pipeline. You may want to warn visitors that parking will be even more limited. If you’ve got any concerns about this do talk to us.

Burst 
We understand your distress and frustration when we are so close to undertaking the re-lining work. Our teams responded quickly to the burst and it was fixed by Monday 12th September. There will be no impact on the timescale for finishing the construction work.

Come and talk to us
Our Customer team will be on site on Tuesday (without the incident van) and Wednesday as usual. You can also email us at [email protected].

Construction works
We now have permission to work on the next two pits in the field and you may have seen our crews working in the area. We are still working with Adur Council on the details for the last pit.

We expect to begin the lining works at the end of September if there are no complications with digging out the remaining pits.

What to expect during the liner going in
The lining work is going to be noisy and there will be even more work traffic around, including some large lorries. We understand this will be disruptive for you but we know you are all keen to have a resilient system as quickly as possible.

When we know the start date, we’ll tell you in advance using this weekly update so you can plan ahead. For example, you might want to work from home less and warn visitors that parking could be tricky.

We want to thank you in advance for your patience during that time.

No drop in centre this week – back on 14^th September
We are sorry but we are unable to run the drop in centre at the incident van this week as our staff need to go to another meeting.

If there is anything urgent, please email us at [email protected]

See you on 14^th September!

Please be understanding if it’s not there; we have one van that we use across the whole region and there might be times when it has to be used at another place in an emergency.

Construction works
We have dug all the pits in West Way and Orient Road. We are still working with Adur Council to get the necessary consent to access the field to dig the last pits. This is an unexpected delay and beyond our control. We have raised this issue with our Director of Wastewater Operations who is helping us to solve it as fast as possible.

On Friday 26^th August we tested the valves at the Brighton Road Pumping Station to see if we could reduce the number of tankers. Unfortunately, further testing is needed which we plan to do the week after next. This could change depending on other schedules.

What to expect during the liner going in
The liner is being stored in a warehouse and is ready for us to use!

We’re on track with our pit digging in the road but until we have access to the field, we can’t start the lining works.

The lining work is going to be noisy and there will be even more work traffic around, including some large lorries. We understand this will be disruptive for you but we know you are all keen to have a resilient system as quickly as possible.

When we know the start date, we’ll tell you in advance using this weekly update so you can plan ahead. For example, you might want to work from home less and warn visitors that parking could be tricky.

We want to thank you in advance for your patience during that time.

Come and see us
We’ve noticed that no-one is coming to see us in the evenings at our incident van, so we’ll finish our drop in session at 4pm until further notice.

We’ll continue to come every Wednesday from 9 to 4pm.

If you want to meet with us after 4pm please email us at [email protected] and we can organise an appointment on a Wednesday at a mutually convenient time.

Please be understanding if it’s not there; we have one van that we use across the whole region and there might be times when it has to be used at another place in an emergency.

We are still working on digging the pits. We’ve dug pits 1,3,4, 5, 6 and still working on the seventh one.

The sewer pipe has been marked out in the field, towards Wencelling Pumping Station. The next step is to dig the pits in the fields so you might see less work going on in the West Beach Estate.

The new pipe liner is due to arrive from Germany in September and it will take us 2 weeks to pull it through. We expect to have a new continuous, reliable pipeline by the end of September 2022. We’ll reinstate all the pits during October 2022.

We have moved materials into the compound, allowing the public footpath to be more accessible. Once we move onto pits in the field, we should be in a better position to start moving and or disintegrating the compound.

We are testing the valves at Brighton Road Wastewater Pumping Station. By doing this we will know if we can reduce the amount of tankering in the area.

We are still working on digging the pits. We’ve dug pits 1,3,4, 5, 6 and now starting on the seventh one.

Pit 2 can be identified by the gatic cover for the air valves. The new pipe liner is due to arrive from Germany in September and it will take us 2 weeks to pull it through. We expect to have a new continuous, reliable pipeline by the end of September 2022. We’ll reinstate all the pits during October 2022.

The sewer pipe has been marked out in the field, towards Wencelling pumping station.

We’ll have the incident van in the area on a weekly basis as a drop-in centre. It will be open from 9am-7pm on Wednesdays.

Please be understanding if it’s not there; we only have one van that we use across the whole region and there might be times when it has to be used at another place in an emergency.

The recent burst (2/8/22) is fixed and holding. The foam concrete was poured on 8/8/2022 and a temporary surface will be put in once the concrete has cured.

We are still working on digging the pits. We’ve dug pits 1,3,4 and 5 now and have started work on the sixth one. Pit 2 can be identified by the gatic cover for the air valves. The new pipe liner is due to arrive from Germany in September and it will take us 2 weeks to pull it through. We expect to have a new continuous, reliable pipeline by October 2022.

We plan to fill in all the pits during October 2022.

There are special joints/clamps that connect one end of the liner to the next one and to small sections of new flanged pipe/bends in between the lining sections. 

Yes, its glass reinforced fibre pipe or polyethylene.

Yes, but there are lots of other benefits too. This process uses UV light to cure the pipe rather than chemicals. Traditional techniques use resins/chemicals to cure liners that often generate strong pear drop smells. The new liners have these already embedded within them so there may be a slight smell but it is much less than the traditional methods.

The new material is resistant to the chemicals found in sewers and saline corrosion from the tide.

There are no junctions, only air values and these are being replaced as part of the job.

The cross-section diameter will be reduced by about 35-40mm. The current pipe that runs along the entire length of the road is oversized so reducing the diameter is not a problem. With the other main, the reduction in diameter is only minor and the pumping setup can be adjusted to accommodate this.

Those houses go directly into Old Salts Pumping Station, so they do not affect this pipeline.

Three pipelines/residential areas to Old Salts Pumping Station. Then it goes on to East Worthing Treatment Works.

Yes, this is a permanent solution because we are putting in a new continuous pipe.

We backfill with foam concrete which is better than the clay cap that’s currently there.

We did use gravel as temporary fix for recent burst in July 2022 because it’s quick and we knew we would be taking it out again.

We don’t know. We know this pipe is a really fragile and doing any work near it might cause it to burst.

That’s why we have 10 tankers on standby to minimise the damage if it bursts.

Thank you for the feedback that our response time to the most recent burst on 2^nd August was good.

Pumping stations react to a wide range of flow rates. The new pumps ramp up slowly so they don’t have a hammer effect.

We’re restricted by the manufacture time of the liner from Germany and the limited time we can store it.

If we did have two teams, we could have pits open but no liner which would be disruptive to customers for longer.

There would also be a lot more disruption for residents if we have more crews and more vans in the area. 

The operational pressure is approximately 4 bar and the pipe is designed to a 10bar inside pressure.

Tony promised to find out the structural integrity from external load.

Landsdown don’t need to do anything because it’s designed for traffic to go over it.

We don’t want any delays either! We’re going to double check.

We’re still looking for a new location. Our land agent team have been working through all the available options. We’ve investigated using the fields and they are not available.

We have to consider the impact we might do to the environment with our heavy equipment so we have carry out checks for endangered species etc before we can use any land.

If you have a good idea where we could move the compound to, do let us know.

Ideally, of course, but we can’t promise.

It has been designed using standard Highway loading codes which means it has been designed as if it were laid under a road used by 44 tonne lorries.

No. They should be taken down when the burst is fixed.

(4/8/2022 – The traffic lights were removed from Brighton road the morning after the public meeting)

We may need to put them back for the 2 weeks while we do the lining work but we are trying a few other things. The valve we need to use is very old so we need to do some testing to see if it will hold.

Sorry, if we need to use traffic lights again, for example while we pull the liner through, we won’t be able to be take them down overnight. They are needed to keep our workforce and local people safe.

Yes. We know it hasn’t been perfect and we’re really sorry. We’ve had some problems with people jumping the lights which affects how the lights work.

Perry agreed this was unacceptable and committed to follow this up with his drivers.

To fix the burst main sewer, we have to stop the flow of waste water by shutting down the pumping stations. We match this flow with tankers, that’s why we need so many. The flows increase when there is a high tide, but they drop off during the night so then the tankers fill up more slowly.

This is a separate issue and not related to our sewer pipe. We’ve carried out some investigations and we fed that information back to the estate owners.

Update: Our staff are meeting this week (w/c 8/8/22) to see what else we can do to help improve this situation.

(Residents raised issues with cracked kerbs, poor quality concrete from previous fixes and damage from tankers and parked vans.)

Our priority is to get the new pipe in place, so we won’t be doing any repair work yet unless it’s a hazard.

After all the pipework and pit reinstatement has been done, we’ll be doing some additional repair work. We’ve been walking the road and doing quality checks and we know there are some issues. We also know the estate owners have not kept the road in the best condition.

We’ve got smaller tankers on West Way now which is helping the situation.

One resident who had lived there for 47 years spoke up to acknowledge that they agreed that the road had not been kept in the best condition. 

If you think something has been damaged please email us at [email protected].

Yes, we’ve been discussing this with Adur Council.

When will we know who’s doing it and when?

We promised to find out the answer and get back to the resident as soon as we know.

We have new investors at Southern Water who want customers to have a reliable network and for the business to thrive. They are giving us the money to invest in this area, and the whole Region, in a way that we haven’t been able to do previously.

No, there is no concern, because we got to the burst very quickly. We always test water quality when there is a spill. It’s part of our procedures. It’s carried out by an independent company.

There is information on the website under our Guaranteed standards of service (southernwater.co.uk)

We agree with you that information from the call centre should be clear and consistent. We’ve already started looking into this matter but we’ll also feed this back to the right people in the business that it needs to be done more urgently.

Yes, we’ll change your monthly newsletter to a weekly one for the rest of the time we are working in your area.

They will go up on the noticeboards by West Way and the two Twittens.

We’ll set up a webpage with a bespoke url for residents that will be shared with them.

We’ll also have the incident van in the area on a weekly basis as a drop-in centre. It will be open from 9am -7pm on Wednesdays.

Please be understanding if it’s not there; we have one van that we use across the whole region and there might be times when it has to be sent to another emergency.

Of course!

Of course! We’re sorry that hasn’t happened before.

Both Cathy and Tony promised to feed this back to their respective Directors.

Yes, we understand it must be so hard to live with this situation.

We’re bringing the incident van once a week to area so you can drop in and come and talk to us.

It will be open from 9am -7pm on Wednesdays.

Please be understanding if it’s not there; we have one van that we use across the whole region. There might be a time when it has to be sent to another emergency without warning.

We’ve passed on this feedback as promised. We have regular review meetings and will continue to share this information with the right staff.