A TEAM working on a major construction project in Overton gave a helping hand around the village with weeding, hedge trimming and litter picking.

The workers, above, from Southern Water and its supplier Barhale Trant Utilities (BTU) installed new water filtration equipment at Overton Water Supply Works to improve water supplies.

During the project, they also helped to unblock drains and install a new gully to reduce the risk of flooding.

New jobs were added to the list as the team spoke to villagers while on site.

Paul Saunders, Southern Water project manager for the scheme, said: “Overton is a leafy Hampshire village with a very close-knit community, and the work we were undertaking there had the potential to be very disruptive to the villagers.

“We understood that very early on, engaged with the parish council and co-hosted an open meeting with BTU. That gave the village an opportunity to talk to us about our plans and discuss any concerns they had.

“BTU have had a fantastic team on site. They have been first-class and pulled out all the stops on what was a sensitive scheme.”

Adrian Atherton, BTU project manager, added: “This was a unique situation because the site was surrounded by homes instead of being remote like the majority of the locations where we work.

“That meant we had to focus on the community and on keeping noise and disruption to a minimum, as well as helping out where we could along the way.

“My team have been great. I must commend them as they are the ones who have done all the hard work really.”

The scheme is now complete and the team is finishing off the final bits of landscaping.

Councillor Tom Ridler, chairman of Overton Parish Council, praised the team responsible for the work.

He said: “The contract has been carried out in an unobtrusive, tidy and timely manner by BTU’s employees who have also undertaken a number of voluntary activities within the community.”

The supply works provide water to 3,500 homes which is abstracted from an underground aquifer, then filtered and treated before being supplied to homes.”