The Thames Water sewer pipe in Kingston Vale has suffered yet another burst on the rising main in Derwent Avenue. This is the high pressure sewer pipe that carries sewage through the area and is connected to the pumping station on the (A3) Robin Hood Roundabout. Thames Water are working on the fault and to mitigate sewer flows through the area, tankers are taking flows from the network and returning to the pumping station in the centre of the roundabout. This requires lane closures on the nearby roundabout.
This is expected to take some time, and cause many problems to the residents of Kingston Vale and to the many who drive through the area. This section of the sewer pipe has been repaired on a regular basis, over a long period of time, and Thames Water has still not yet agreed to a complete and long-term repair that will prevent this from reoccurring in the coming months and years – apparently waiting for OFWAT to make a decision on their business plans.
As ward councillors we (Cllr Rowena Bass and Cllr Ian George) have been lobbying Thames Water for a replacement and long-term fix for the problem. We have asked the Council Leader and Chief Executive to use all of the influence that the Council has, and support our ongoing campaign to actively push for a long-term fix that will prevent such problems for Kingston Vale residents, and all those who get inconvenienced by the constant road closures.
Kingston Council has been too relaxed in dealing with Thames Water and other contractors (in Kingston Vale and throughout the borough) who close roads for long periods of time, on a regular basis.
We are in constant discussions with the relevant people at Thames Water, and will update local residents as soon as we have further information.
Sometimes roadworks are required at short notice, but often we get the impression that contractors take our borough for granted. Get in touch if you know of any long-term roadworks in the borough that never seem to end, and we will chase Kingston Council to proactively manage the road closure, and liaise with the relevant companies.
