Last updated at 16:58, Tuesday, 12 February 2013

WORK is under way on a £600,000 sewer system in a bid to stop dozens of Millom homes from flooding.

The project is being carried out by United Utilities in the Finch Street, Holborn Hill and Salthouse Road areas of the town.

Residents’ homes were inundated with water in 2006 and 2010 after a pumping station failed – causing thousands of pounds of damage as householders were forced to throw away flood-damaged carpets and furniture.

Now work is under way and a new 300mm diameter pipe will be installed along Finch Street, and Holborn Hill, connecting to the sewer network in Salthouse Road, in a bid to prevent the flooding from happening again.

Jean Wright, one of the residents hit by flooding in Holborn Hill, said: “We’re rather pleased about it.

“It’s about time something was done.

“The flooding caused a lot of damage for all of us on the block.

“The work started last Monday – and with a bit of luck we’re hoping it should be a thing of the past. We’re all pleased about it.”

Councillor Jack Park is the Copeland Borough councillor and Millom Town councillor for Holborn Hill.

He said: “It’s good news. This is what we’ve been waiting for for a long time.

“There was nothing worse than seeing the mess those poor people had to clean up at the bottom of Holborn Hill.

“Hopefully they won’t have to keep sand bags by their doors any more.”

Traffic lights are in place until the end of March but so far traders have not reported any major problems.

Austin Storry, who runs McMeekin’s Greengrocer in Wellington Street, said: “I don’t know what it’s like first thing in a morning but our delivery driver has still been arriving at the same time.

“For me the traffic lights haven’t caused any problems.”

Dawn Harrington, United Utilities project manager, said: "It is vitally important that we do this work to protect people in this part of Millom from flooding, but we want to do things sensit-ively and ease the strain wherever we can.

“We're happy to answer any questions so please come along and see us."

A weekly drop-in session about the project will take place on Monday from 11am to 3pm in Millom Network Centre, in Salthouse Road.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of April.

First published at 16:43, Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk