SES Water completes major resilience work early on A22

SES Water has successfully completed crucial improvement works early, which required the closure of a section of the A22 Godstone Road in Purley.

The work involved digging a 300m long trench through the centre of the road to lay the new mains water pipe, an operation which required months of extensive prior planning and stakeholder engagement.

As part of the Company’s current Business Plan, it has pledged for 100% of properties in its supply area (280,000) to be supplied by more than one treatment works by 2025, which will reduce the risk of supply failures and help move water from one area to another, more efficiently.

The completion of the works will directly benefit 27,000 properties in the Purley and surrounding areas and vastly improve the resilience of the local water supply network. The project formed part of a £45m programme of investment over a 15 year period from 2010 to 2025 and these works were crucial in ensuring 100% of properties in the supply area are supplied by more than one treatment works.

SES Water Wholesale Director, Tom Kelly said: “We’re delighted to have completed this crucial piece of resilience work early and within budget enabling us to re-open the A22 road again to local residents. Closing a road as busy as this is never going to be without disruption but we’re grateful for the patience and co-operation of local residents and businesses throughout the closure. Residents will soon be able to be supplied by more than one treatment works, meaning the risk of future supply failures to local homes is reduced.”

Last week, SES Water were delighted to welcome Croydon Councillor, Cllr Gayle Gander to site to show first-hand the improvement works the team has worked at pace to deliver including working on weekends.

Cllr Gayle Gander said:  “I am delighted that SES Water works on the A22 in Purley have been completed ahead of schedule. Whilst street works, especially major ones like this are always an inconvenience, they are needed to ensure that we can all benefit from essential supplies of water, gas, electricity and fibre to our homes. These works in Purley were needed to provide greater resilience into the water network, by reducing the risk of failure supply. SES Water and their contractors consulted closely with ward councillors, alongside residents associations, businesses and others affected by the closure. Their communications were transparent, and they were open to receiving suggestions on routing and signage to help protect residents and roads from excess traffic, particularly HGVs. It is clear that the works were well planned and delivered and it is a real relief that they are completed before the end of the summer holidays.”

While the A22 is re-open, members of the public and local residents can expect to see some teams present to finalise some works next to the road, but these won’t cause any disturbance to the local transport network, or neighbouring businesses.

More information about the scheme can be found at: https://seswater.uk.engagementhq.com/a22godstoneroad