Sewer works are nearly over

Thames Water began a series of road closures throughout Tilehurst in January to enable it to install bigger sewer pipes to protect nearby homes from raw sewage flooding.

The controversial �1m project was due to take 11-months but workers are ahead of schedule because of a quick-working underground tunnel digger, known as an auger borer.

Thames Water's head of programme delivery Andy Popple [corr] said: "We are making really good progress and have been able to install 700 metres of new pipe already and we're hoping to have the work complete by the end of the month.

"Despite the recent heavy rain, the new network has already shown an ability to cope so we are confident this scheme will prove a real benefit to the people of Tilehurst who have had to put up with the misery of sewer flooding in the past."

He added: "We've been augering the sewer pipe, which in places is 1,500mm (59.1inches), to reduce the impact to local businesses and residents and we're pleased that we're ahead of schedule to finish up and get out of their way."

The scheme involved closing stretches of Hildens Drive, between City Road and Chieveley Close, part of Longworth Avenue, and completely closing City Road between Lovatt Close and Hildens Drive since the end of last month, for up to six weeks at a time.

The early finish will be good news for shop-owners in Hildens Drive who said their customers were being been driven away by road diversions.

The disruption was minimised for traders when Thames Water agreed to only work on one-side of the road at a time and avoid leaving the shops and restaurants without any vehicle access, but Harish Patel, owner of Jays News, who relies on through traffic and shoppers passing on the way to nearby schools, said: "It's very good news that it's almost finished now.

"My business has been spoilt by it but I understand they've got a job to do, and they have been cooperative when we needed them to be."