Deal Water Action Taskforce, member Natalie Elphicke MP
Southern Water has met with Albert Road, Deal residents to tell them about a pioneering project in their area, and how partners are working together to reduce flooding and pollution incidents in Deal.
The meeting was organised by the Deal Water Action Taskforce, which includes Natalie Elphicke MP for Dover and Deal, County and District Councillors, representatives from Kent County Council and Dover District Council, and Southern Water’s Storm Overflow Task Force.
During the meeting, Southern Water talked locals through the findings of an extensive study and discussed how Albert Road residents helped to shape the project.
Working with local partners and representatives including Kent County Council and Deal residents, Southern Water will be bringing forward a series of measures to help tackle issues specifically in the Albert Road area of Deal.
These include replacing and increasing the size of roadside gullies in Albert Road.
The work, due to be carried out by Kent County Council next month includes:
- Increasing the diameter of the Albert Road surface water sewer to improve capacity and reduce risk of flooding
- Making improvements to the Golf Road wastewater pumping station, improving efficiency and operational capacity
Improvements in Deal form part of a wider £2 billion investment into Southern Water’s pipes and sewage infrastructure to help reduce pollution by 80 per cent by 2025.
However, Southern Water are committed to taking a holistic, cross-sector approach by working with local communities and stakeholders to find the most practical and effective solutions to cut storm overflows and reduce disruption to lives and the environment.
Nick Mills, Head of Southern Water’s Storm Overflow Taskforce said: “We know residents in the Albert Road area of Deal have suffered from repeated flooding incidents and we’re very pleased to be working with the local community and partners to implement sustainable interventions that will help tackle these challenges.
“Our work is a clear example of what can be achieved by taking a cross-sector, community focused approach to tackling complex challenges around flooding and pollution and I’m confident that residents will soon begin to experience the benefits of this.
“This is only the start of the journey towards a sustainable drainage system in Deal. We’ll continue to work with our partners to identify and deliver opportunities for improvement and the sustainable growth of the town and the wider region.”