THAMES WATER TO HOLD DROP-IN SESSION OVER “MUST-DO” WORKS
THAMES WATER are to hold a three-hour drop-in session in Sainsbury’s Westow Street store next week to answer questions on essential water main repair works in Church Road which are set to bring unavoidable traffic chaos to the area.
Members of the Thames Water team will be on hand to answer questions between 4pm and 7pm at Sainsburys on Wednesday (July 8th).
Details of the closure of part of Church Road – between its junctions with Anerley Hill and Westow Street – will be available along with information explaining why the work is so important and diversion route maps.
Transport for London have still to give details of where buses which use the affected part of Church Road – the 249 322 417 432 450 N2 and N 137 – will be re-routed when they come into force on July 21st for a four-week period.
A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “A pipe which supplies drinking water to thousands of homes and businesses, must be fixed as, if left, there is a high risk it could burst which would potentially cause significant disruption in the area.
“Diversions will be in place for the duration of the work which is expected to take four weeks.
“During this time teams will be working through the night to get the job completed as quickly as possible but will ensure any noisy work is done by 10pm each day. “The work will not have any impact on the water supply to the area.”
Thames Water project manager Sean Healey said: “We’re sorry for the disruption this work will cause but it’s a must-do job.
“We’ve discovered a leak on a major water pipe and if we don’t get it fixed it will get worse and could eventually burst.
“This could lead to flooding and would affect the water supply to a large number of homes and businesses – so it’s important we don’t wait for the worst to happen and get on and repair the pipe now.
“We’ve worked closely with Croydon council to plan diversions which will be clearly signposted well in advance and have purposely scheduled the job to take place during the school holidays to minimise disruption.
“We’ll be working as fast as we can, including at night, to finish this vital work as quickly as possible.”
A Croydon council spokesman said: “We’re closing these roads so Thames Water can carry out their necessary repairs as quickly as possible and keep to a minimum any disruption to local people.
“As well as putting up signs before the road diversions go live, we have asked Thames Water to write to all affected locals in advance about how they can go about their business during these essential works.”
Thames Water have given details of the diversion routes as follows:
Diversion Route 1 – Traffic heading NW up Anerley Hill. (See map attached)
Crystal Palace Parade, College Road, Dulwich Wood Park, Gipsy Road, Gipsy Hill, Central Hill, Hermitage Road & Beulah Hill.
Diversion Route 2 – Traffic heading south down Crystal Palace Parade or heading east along Westow Hill. (See map attached)
Anerley Hill, Anerley Road, Croydon Road, Penge Road, High Street, South Norwood Hill.
(Note: Diversion route one appears to suggest there will be a temporary right turn at the top of Gipsy Hill onto Central Hill. Some bus stops – notably on Church Road going in the direction of All Saints church – may have to be suspended.
Buses using Hermitage Road could follow the 450 route along Chevening Road and turn into Harold Road. Clarification is awaited – Ed.)