News

Severn Trent’s project to upgrade sewers to reduce the risk of flooding in Hanley town centre is nearly complete.

The company has invested more than £170,000 to install bigger pipes under the streets in the town, and engineers expect to complete work this week.

The project was planned closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and engineers used innovative laser-guided underground drilling techniques to minimise disruption to the busy shopping area.

Debbie Goodale, who is leading the project for Severn Trent, said: “This has been an essential project for Hanley to provide added protection against sewer flooding during heavy rainfall.

“The previous sewers just weren’t big enough and there was a risk that, during stormy conditions, they wouldn’t be able to cope. The new sewer pipes are much bigger and provide far greater protection to the shops and businesses in the town centre.

“To make sure we could keep roads open while we completed the work we used special equipment to install the pipes. This involved digging out small tunnels beneath the roads and then threading the pipes through. It meant we were able to keep roads open while we worked and avoided diversions into the town.”

The project forms part of Severn Trent’s commitment to investing in its infrastructure which will see the equivalent of £1,400 invested for every home and business it serves between 2015 and 2020.