A severe blockage to drains on Richmond Road has taken longer than originally anticipated and Richmond Council are set to fine Thames Water for the ongoing delays.

The emergency works started on October 4, as a result of a third party pouring a substantial amount of concrete into the sewer. This caused a blockage over 35 metres long.

Whilst the pipe is being replaced, Thames Water has had to install two tankers to pump out waste 24 hours a day, to protect the environment and ensure nearby properties and businesses are not flooded with sewage.
 
This work has taken a lot longer than the three weeks originally anticipated by Thames Water and the delays have caused significant disruption to nearby businesses and residents. 

Seb, who is the manager of paint shop Tass & Co – the closest business to the works, said the delay has disrupted business. He said: “For the first two weeks it wasn’t too bad. But the next three or four have been really bad.

“There are no parking spaces around the shop, and as we sell to tradespeople our customers can’t really get to us.”
 
Whilst the Council is supporting the investigation into the culprit of the concrete, the council believe repair works have taken too long. 
 
The Council will be fining Thames Water - under section 74 of The New Roads & Streetworks Act - for prolonging completion of these works. 

To enable works to be completed as soon as possible the council has approved 24-hour working however, if residents or businesses have any issues with noise attributed to these activities, they should inform the council through the website.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Cabinet Member for Transport, Streetscene and Air Quality said: “Clearly the blame for these works lies with those who were responsible for the concrete entering the sewer. We have been pressing Thames Water to conclude their investigation into the cause and we hope they will ensure appropriate fines and compensation for local businesses will follow. 
 
“However, Thames Water have taken far too long to repair the problem and weeks of proposed work have turned into months of disruption. That is why Richmond Council have begun daily fining Thames Water for non-completion of the repairs. We hope that this will act as a necessary impetus to complete the works at the earliest opportunity and return the area to normality.”

A Thames Water spokesperson said:“It has taken longer than first expected to remove the concrete, which was poured into the sewer by a third party, due to areas where it has set hard making it extremely difficult to clear. 

“We’ve ramped up our work on the job and have been working round the clock to get it done as soon as possible. We’ve got tankers pumping out sewage to protect nearby properties and the environment, and have a customer team on site regularly updating residents on progress. 

“A complete excavation of the sewer would have meant the entire road would have been closed so we’re doing it in a way to keep the road partially open to reduce delays. We’re sorry for the disruption it’s causing, but it’s a very difficult job that was caused by a third party and our investigations into who is responsible are ongoing.”