18/09/2008

A flood of investment is to protect and improve the environment in the Seaton Valley.

Northumbrian Water is to invest £1.5 million to upgrade the sewerage network in the Brunswick Village, Dudley, Holywell, Seaton Burn, Seaton Deleval and Seghill areas.

Work is underway on the scheme, which is due to be completed by the end of December 2008.

The scheme involves installing two new combined sewer overflows and upgrading a further thirteen.

Combined sewer overflows are designed, and consented by the Environment Agency, to discharge wastewater into watercourses in times of very heavy rainfall to protect properties and surrounding land from flooding. The work to build screened combined sewer overflows will also improve the water quality of the Seaton Burn.

Brian Ford, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said: “This work will have a positive environmental impact as it will improve the quality of wastewater discharged to the Seaton Burn in times of heavy rainfall.

“We will do all we can, through careful planning with Blyth Valley Borough Council, Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council to keep any disruption to a minimum.”

Work will be carried out in Drysdale Crescent in Brunswick Village, Green Crescent, Fern Drive, Love Avenue, Owen Brannigan Drive and Southfields in Dudley, Northside Place and Tillmouth Avenue in Holywell, Meadow Drive in Seaton Burn, Ashkirk Way in Seaton Deleval and Dene Grove and Mares Close in Seghill.

It will be necessary to have minor traffic management in place in the Southfields area of Dudley, Dene Grove in Seghill and Ashkirk Way in Seaton Deleval at times during the course of this work.

It is very unlikely that anyone from Northumbrian Water will need to gain access into customers’ homes while the work is being carried out.

If customers are in any doubt of a caller claiming to be from the water company, they should not let them into their home. They should ring the company’s customer centre on 0845 717 1100 to confirm the caller’s identity.

For more information contact Leanne Clough on 0191 301 6733.