Have your say: water pipe dig could ruin beauty spot or cause traffic chaos

By lucy crossley lucy.crossley@essnmedia.co.uk

PARADISE lost or traffic hell – the sorry saga facing East Surrey residents.

Sutton and East Surrey Water plans to build a £2.5 million pipeline through the north of the borough, and have offered two alternatives – tear up the beautiful green belt land across Banstead Commons or run a pipeline along the borough's busiest road – the A217.

The pipeline, which will take water from Mogador to reservoirs at Burgh Heath, stretching over three miles, is needed to protect supplies in Sutton from low rainfall and drought.

Sutton and East Surrey Water's operations director, Mr Hegarty, said: "This new pipeline is not an option. It must be installed as part of our commitments to our regulators and customers."

But the water company says only the two options are available, and despite acknowledging the move "will cause concern to some customers", Mr Hegarty said: "We will take stakeholders' views into account before determining the route we will take."

Traffic jams could reach down to the M25 and Reigate Hill, should the company favour plans for the pipeline along the A217.

But digging up parts of the picturesque landscape of Banstead Heath will affect thousands of animals, insects and wild plants.

Mr Hegarty, said: "While this is no different from many of our large mains laying schemes, we are conscious that whatever route we use will cause concern to some of our customers."

Sutton and East Surrey Water is in the process of working out which of the two routes would be most appropriate for the 20-inch diameter main and is consulting with Surrey County Council's Highways Department, Transport for London, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Natural England, Surrey Wildlfe Trust and land owners.

The water company would prefer to run the pipeline through the heath, but to do this must get permission from the Banstead Commons Conservators, who have managed the area since 1893.

Work is likely to begin on the project in early 2011, but this would be pushed back if the A217 route was selected.

Using the A217 means the dual carriageway would be restricted to just one lane.

For more on this story and reaction see page 2