Wharfe to benefit from sewer upgrade

CONTRACTORS will start work next week on a project which should help to improve the quality of water in the River Wharfe as it flows through an area of the southern Yorkshire Dales.

The Wharfe is to benefit from a £200,000 Yorkshire Water investment package in the sewerage network beneath the streets of Ben Rhydding.

Contractors working on behalf of the company will start work on the installation of new screens in the combined sewer overflow under Wheatley Lane and the construction of a small kiosk above ground on Monday, January 14.

The project will mean more debris is contained within the sewerage system, particularly after prolonged or heavy rain, helping to improve the quality of water in the River Wharfe. In the long-term, better water quality could also help new species of river life to establish colonies both in the water and along the banks.

"Although it is dependent on the weather, we're not expecting the work to take longer than a couple of months," said customer communications advisor, Wendy Howarth.

"However, we will need to install temporary traffic lights on Wheatley Lane to ensure crews can work in safety.

"Some disruption is inevitable, for which we'd like to apologise in advance, but we hope customers will agree that the long-term benefits are worth a little short-term inconvenience."

Normal sewerage services should not be affected and neither Yorkshire Water nor contractors Mott MacDonald Bentley anticipate needing access to properties in the area.

Yorkshire Water is urging homeowners approached by strangers claiming they need to be allowed in to ask for identification. Genuine employees of both companies carry cards which can be verified by ringing the telephone number on the reverse - and they won't mind waiting while their credentials are checked.