Sewer leak shuts down Dorking road
A stink was caused in Dorking this week when one of the town's major arteries was closed due to a collapsed sewer pipe.
West Street, which is part of the A25, was shut to traffic on Monday evening for Thames Water to perform emergency repairs on a broken Victorian sewer.
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Broken pipe: West Street in Dorking was closed to traffic while emergency repairs took place on a Victorian sewer Photo No: RSMAK260110-B05 by Alec Kingham
As the Advertiser went to press, the road remained closed causing frustration to traders and traffic chaos.
Trader Natasha Cowen, the owner of clothes shop Bodacious Babes, was opposite the works, which included a deep pit.
She said the drains had been causing trouble for some time, with sewage oozing out of a drain outside the shop.
She said: "There was sewage everywhere and it stank. It literally killed our trade."
But she added that the disruption from the road closure had made the situation worse.
The Heritage Windows Company also had trouble with the drains when water damaged the store's showroom.
Manager Russell Windram said: "There has been raw sewage all over the road about three times in the past month."
With the big freeze having only just subsided, many traders looking for a return to normality were disappointed by the road closure.
Glyn Elias, from Elias Antiques, said: "It has been dead. It is very worrying because it has been a very tough time already.
"Anything that stops traffic coming through the town is bad."
But although West Street may have been empty, other parts of the town were much busier.
Police officers were even brought out to Pump Corner to help control the traffic.
Tony Lawrence, from Dorking Models in West Street, thought the situation was badly managed.
He said: "One would have thought that a modicum of intelligence would be used by the Highways Department to temporarily suspend these lights to let the traffic exit from North Street (and turn left into the High Street).
"Instead, we have chaos as people are taking about 15-20 minutes just to get along Church Street to the West Street car park."
A spokeswoman for Thames Water apologised for the inconvenience. She said: "We're working as quickly as possible to repair the collapsed sewer.
"A full diversion is in place.
"While repairs are underway, we are using a tanker to manage the waste from the sewer."
At the time of publication, the road was expected to be reopened this morning (Thursday).
3 Comments
by Gazza, Dorking
Friday, January 29 2010, 12:17PM
“Why couldn't the sewer go wrong when no one wanted to drive along the road and why isn't it under some sort of Victorian guarantee!
Get real people, under the circumstances what was done quickly to resolve the problem wasn't too inconvenient, what do you expect?”
by BB, Dorking
Thursday, January 28 2010, 10:52AM
“I agree, was managed very badly!
The traffic coming from Westcott to Dorking is bad enough already and the closure of the road doubled mine and many many others journey time home .
I was overjoyed to see the road is now open again this morning on the way to work!”
by Dorking Deb, Dorking
Thursday, January 28 2010, 9:18AM
“I understand that these works have to take place - and no matter what you do, you can't please everyone. However, the defence from the spokeswoman regarding a "full" diversion shows that she has no idea what she's talking about. Yes there was a diversion, but seeing as it took me more than half an hour to get from Triangle Stores, down through North Street and out the other side, I can't see that it's anything to boast about putting in place!”