Saltford Parish Council welcomed the opportunity to raise questions and concerns to Wessex Water’s project manager at its April meeting, ahead of Wellsway works. Please see our news article ‘Planned roadworks B3116 Wellsway, Keynsham (nr Crickey Club) Summer 2023‘ and article posted in July ‘Wessex Water Wellsway roadworks – update as school year gets underway‘.
SPC has been contacted today (Monday 16 October) with an update on the completion of these works.
A message from Wessex Water’s Project Manager is as follows:
I am pleased to inform you that Wessex Water’s £500,000 project to protect the environment by helping to alleviate sewer flooding in the area has been completed right on schedule.
As you may recall, the 12-week project – which got under way in July – will help address historic issues with sewage system flooding in the area around Limekilns Close and Keynsham Cricket Club, with two separate systems connected by 170 metres of new sewer.
The Wellsway was closed to through traffic between Rock Hill Estate to the Bath Road roundabout (outside the New Inn pub) to allow construction of the new relief sewer in the road, with access maintained for residents and a diversion in place.
Working closely with B&NES Council, the work was timed to ensure it coincided with the school summer holidays, to reduce disruption to the local community.
This project has now been completed to schedule and the road fully reopened.
We would like to thank all stakeholders for your co-operation, patience and understanding while this important scheme was carried out.
(SPC is aware that local businesses and local media will also be contacted by Wessex Water)
Separately from this scheme, more work is taking place in and around Keynsham to ensure the processes for treating wastewater from the town continue to meet the highest environmental standards.
A two-year programme of improvements is under way at the town’s water recycling centre off Broadmead Lane, where £16.5 million is being invested to expand the site and allow further infrastructure to be installed. This work is taking place entirely within the boundaries of the existing site.
Meanwhile, in Saltford, the construction of a bridge over the River Avon to provide a permanent access to the Mead Lane water recycling centre is nearing completion, with a two-year £34 million expansion of the site getting under way in early 2024. By boosting the capacity of this water recycling centre, Wessex Water will be able to treat more than 800 litres of wastewater per second – around a 40 per cent increase on current flows – to help meet increasing demands.
Further information about the Saltford project and the work Wessex Water is completing to protect the region’s rivers is available at wessexwater.co.uk