A £1.2 million project to protect homes in central Poole from sewer flooding has finished a month ahead of schedule.
The work saw around 500 metres of pipes replaced in the Waterloo area to tackle long-standing problems with flooding during heavy rainfall, which has previously caused toilets to back up and water to discharge onto roads.
Wessex Water carried out the four-month project alongside its sister firm YTL Construction, with roads in French Road, Marshall Road, Apsley Crescent and Denison Road closed in stages while the larger capacity pipes were installed.
Project manager Paul Delves said the upgrade was vital to help residents who had faced flooding for a number of years. He explained that heavier rainfall was overwhelming the existing sewers and that the new pipes would help ease the pressure on the network.
He added that the team worked closely with BCP Council and the local community to keep disruption to a minimum. “Thanks to those efforts and those of our team, the scheme proceeded well and we were able to bring forward the end of the programme substantially,” he said.
As part of the works, Hillbourne Community Centre allowed the use of part of its car park as a temporary compound. In return, Wessex Water left improvements including new sockets, repairs to a boundary wall and reinstated markings in the car park.
The company said it is continuing to work with BCP Council on wider surface water drainage issues in the area. It also has plans for a £580 million programme between 2025 and 2030 to reduce storm overflows and improve rainwater management.
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