Grafton St To Shut Down For 6 Months

Grafton Street in Broadgate is to be closed to traffic, and even resident's parking for up to 6 months. The whole street will resemble a massive building site, as it will be open only to contractors vehicles, the work is scheduled to begin in May, and may last until October.

Broadgate residents are preparing themselves for months, if not years of traffic chaos, as the work will continue along Strand Road, and involve the sinking of several tunnel shafts.

The crucial work is part of the Preston Tunnel Project, a major piece of civil engineering by United Utilities which will allow, when it is finished, for the storage of up to 30,000 cubic metres of storm water overflow, and will include 5 kilometres of pipework which will transfer waste water to the Clifton Marsh Water Treatment Works.

While residents are concerned about the inconvenience, noise, dirt and dust, most are aware of promises by the authorities that this work will significantly improve Preston's flood defences, as it enables much more effective drainage of storm waters that create the kind of flash flooding we're now all too familiar with, as well as improving water quality in the River Ribble, and in the Estuary.

The tunnels in Preston will follow the paths of existing roads and will not travel under buildings apart from those owned by United Utilities. Restoration will also be carried out after the underground work is complete.

Three shafts will be dug at Watery Lane, Marsh Lane and Fishergate Hill to allow digging machines to travel 26m underground to create a tunnel between the sites.
From Preston the pipes will travel under the river to a new pumping station in Penwortham, before passing beneath farmland and the river to Clifton Marsh.

The project has been planned to help the river comply with European legislation on bathing water quality.

Once complete, improvements should be seen to shellfish waters along the estuary and to beaches at Southport, Ainsdale, St Annes and Blackpool.

Discuss the Preston Tunnel Project at the Central Area Forum

A huge tunnel project that will improve storm water overflow discharges into the River Ribble from the Preston and Penwortham area will be one of the key topics under discussion at the 'Central Area Forum' which will be meeting at 7.00pm on Tuesday 24th March at the St Walburge's Parish Centre.

The Multi Million pound project is being undertaken to comply with the European Water Framework Directive, and will help improve local bathing and shellfish waters within the Ribble Estuary and along the Fylde Coast.

Construction work is planned to commence in the autumn of 2009.

At the meeting, the public will be able to quiz representatives of United Utilities who will provide an overview of the project. The ambitious project includes approximately 30,000 cubic metres of storm water storage, several tunnel shafts, a new pumping station and over 5 kilometres of pipeline to transfer waste water at Clifton Marsh Water Treatment Works.

Here's how the Lancashire Evening Post recently covered this project: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/114m-water-pipe-project-to.4952233.jp

Other subjects under discussion at the meeting will be the erection of a new police communication mast at Lancaster Road North, Ethics and Standards and the Role of Local Councillors, a chance to talk to a Neighbourhood Services representative from Preston City Council about street cleansing, recycling and grounds maintenance, Local Policing, and a chance to ask any questions to the various Councillors, County Councillors, PCT reps, the police and other organisations that usually attend these meetings.

If you want more information about the forum, a copy of the agenda, or if you can't attend but want to ask a question, the guy you need is Nigel Heckford, the area forum manager. He can be contacted at the Town Hall on 01772 906372, or by emailing n.heckford@preston@preston.gov.uk