We’re investing £900,000 to upgrade our fresh drinking water supply network in Paddock Wood to ensure we can continue supplying top quality drinking water to our customers as the local community grows.
Following on from work completed in Mascalls Court Road in 2023, we are now planning to lay around 430 metres of new water main along Gedges Hill and a further 650 metres in Chantler’s Hill.
To minimise disruption to residents and motorists, work will be carried out in two phases. We will be carrying out initial works during the Easter school holiday period in preparation for installing the new pipework during the summer holidays.
Phase 1 – Work will begin on Thursday 28 March 2024 and is expected to take two weeks over the school Easter Holiday period.
Phase 2 – Work will begin on Tuesday 23 July 2024 and is expected to take six weeks, to be completed during the school summer holiday period.
Our team will be working extended hours Monday to Friday, from 7.00am to 7.00pm, and from 8.00am to 4.00pm on Saturdays to support completion of the works within the school holidays. There may also be some night works required for network connections.
Diversion route and traffic management
For the safety of the public and our workforce, we will need to close Gedges Hill and Chantler’s Hill while we carry out this vital work. We know road closures can be disruptive and they are a last resort, however safety is at the forefront of our minds. We will work as quickly and as safely as possible to complete the work.
All businesses will be open as usual, and a signed diversion route will be in place.
Advance warning signs will also be used prior to works commencing.
Downloads
Below are key documents related to this scheme for you to download and share.
FAQs
We do all we can to minimise disruption to motorists and the community when laying new water mains and always look to install pipes in locations which will cause the least disruption, such as grass verges and when in a road, as close to the verge as possible.
For this project, we will need to close Gedges Hill and Chantler’s Hill while we are working. This is to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce.
Work will be phased within the closure to maintain access for residents and businesses but will be closed to through traffic.
When creating a diversion, we are required to offer a route which follows the same class (or above) of the road we are closing. As Gedges Hill is a B road, the diversion needs to follow other B roads or above.
We are aware that local residents may know quicker ways to navigate around a diversion route. However, we do not encourage this, again for safety.
We advise all traffic to follow the official diversion route at all times.
Road signs will be placed in advance, including electronic signage, to reinforce this message and advise of the diversion route. Signage will remain in place for the duration of the project, and we urge people not to tamper with these.
Before work starts, all local bus companies are presented with the project plans.
It is up to the bus companies to understand what impact the work will have on their services and provide alternatives. We do not influence their decision and are unable to provide a solution for them.
As with all of our roadworks, we will always maintain access for emergency services.
Likewise with bus companies, the emergency services are briefed well in advance of any roadworks and are adept at making their own arrangements to find alternative routes. This is common practice.
Access to properties and businesses will be maintained at all times, however there may be a short wait if we are working in front of your property and access to businesses may be via the diversion routes or from one end of the works.
The direction from which you access your property may change as the work progresses along the road.
Bin collections and postal deliveries will still be able to access properties for the duration of our work, they will need to follow the diversion routes as signposted throughout. As with the bus companies, we advise of the works and it is up to these providers to ensure that their services can continue during our works.
As the work will require connections to the existing network, there will be a short interruption in supply. We will notify you well in advance when this is due to happen if you are impacted by a loss of supply.
Customers with additional needs be it a disability, mental health or financial concerns can sign up to our Priority Services Register to help us understand how we can help you. More information can be found here.
This page will be updated as work progresses, but if you have any concerns during the work, the staff on site will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to speak to us direct, please call our Customer Technical Centre on 0333 000 0002 or email us at customerservices@southeastwater.co.uk
To register for free text or email updates about work in your area, visit inyourarea.digdat.co.uk/southeastwater
How are projects planned?
Project Updates
Monday, 15 April 2024
10:23 AM
Phase 1 completed
We have completed phase one of our work in Gedges Hill and Chantlers Hill. Traffic management was removed and the road reopened last night. We will be returning on Tuesday 23 July, the start of the school summer holidays, to complete phase two of this work in Gedges Hill and Chantlers Hill, which will again require road closures to complete the works.
Thursday, 28 March 2024
15:26 PM
Project starts
We’ve arrived on site ready to begin work tomorrow, Friday 29 March. Chantler’s Hill is now closed to through traffic, with Gedges Hill closing tomorrow. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses.
Please follow the official diversion route as detailed above.
Friday, 9 February 2024
08:47 AM
Thank you to those who attended our public drop-in session on Wednesday evening. It was a pleasure to meet the community and answer your questions.
For those unable to attend, you can find an information pack here(opens in a new tab).
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