24 miles of pipes will be laid over two years in Stoke-on-Trent. Severn Trent invests £25M to improve water reliability.
Drop-in sessions will explain the plan, and Severn Trent will release a work map. Some busy roads will be affected. This is a significant investment by Severn Trent, aiming to improve North Staffordshire.
They are also fixing wastewater at PureGym for £6 million, and a £17 million project previously helped Fowlea Brook, reducing flooding in Etruria last year.
Severn Trent will replace old pipes across many streets, starting on April 1. The project will lay over 24 miles of pipes. The new pipes will go under some streets, including parts of High Lane, Hanley Road, Town Road, Moorland Road, and Ford Green Road.
Contractors want to limit problems, though this project will take a while and impacts busy roads. They have replaced pipes before; roads shut down during a 2022 project. This new phase starts in Sneyd Green, moving to Birches Head, and finishing by April 2027. They plan to work on Birches Head Road.
Charlene Richards, working for Severn Trent, spoke about the project. She says the project benefits Stoke-on-Trent, and the new pipes should last a century, making the water network secure.
A drop-in session is planned for March 10 at The Indi Club for residents of certain areas, from 4 PM to 7 PM. Another session is for Burslem residents at Port Vale on March 11, from 3 PM to 6 PM.
Charlene said the works will cause problems, but Severn Trent wants to keep people informed. Contact will occur via letters, and a webpage will offer updates.
Burslem had problems with bursts. Water poured down some streets last November, requiring crews to dig up a large hole, even lifting paving slabs.
Severn Trent will spend £415 million in the area, planning to replace 870 miles of pipes by 2030, creating 440 jobs.
Businesses affected can contact Severn Trent at businessloss@severntrent.co.uk. They have a “business loss team”.