A £200,000 project to improve the sewer system in a Basingstoke suburb, which was devastated by flooding, has got underway.

It comes exactly a year after floodwater contaminated with sewage, following weeks of heavy rainfall, breached six properties in Sperrin Close, Buckskin.

Over the following days, a further 81 properties in Grampian Way, Exmoor Close, Bodmin Close, Antrim Close, Prescelly Close, Quantock Close and Holyrood Court were evacuated as groundwater flooding overwhelmed the community, with families put into hotels and temporary accommodation.

An independent report published by Hampshire County Council in July 2014 revealed that a dormant spring, which became active, was part of the reason the area flooded, and experts concluded that surface water drainage needed to be reviewed to understand the underlying cause of the flooding.

But, in a bid to prevent groundwater getting into the area’s sewer system, Thames Water has embarked on a £200,000 programme of drain repairs across the area, which will include the sewer pipes being repaired and relined, and repairing pipes which have been damaged due to root ingress from nearby trees.

In addition, the water company will be replacing 69 manhole covers in the area with leak tight covers to help prevent groundwater entering the sewers.

The improvement project, which started on Monday will make its way along Cairngorm Close, Campsie Close, Prescelly Close, Quantock Close, Grampian Way, Antrim Close, Blackdown Close and Buckskin Lane between now and April 2.

Spencer Whiteley, regional manager at Thames Water, said: “Since last year’s flooding, our engineers have been heavily involved in assessing sewer pipes in Buckskin, including carrying out CCTV surveys on over 4,000 metres of the wastewater network.

“Our sewers are not designed to take groundwater, so this programme of work will help reduce the risk of groundwater getting into the sewer system, and help prevent potential blockages which can lead to flooding.”

Buckskin Labour councillor, Nigel Pierce, told The Gazette: “I am very pleased to see that Thames Water has at last decided to replace and reline some of the foul sewage network in Buckskin.

“We would have liked to have seen it done a lot earlier and we have so far been fortunate that we haven’t had a massive downpour which has created a problem. The lining and the replacement of the sewage pipes will be another step to making Buckskin a drier place.”

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