Two-way traffic lights will be in place on a North Yorkshire road for six weeks as plans to upgrade a village’s sewer network take place.

Yorkshire Water’s investment on Carlton Road at Carlton Miniott, near Thirsk, will be split into two phases, with £200,000 allocated to the construction of new sewers and a manhole at the Vicarage sewage pumping station.

The remaining £250,000 is set to fund a detailed investigation into the wider network, including CCTV inspections of existing sewers and surveys of manholes and impermeable surfaces.

Flood warning sign on a roadFlood warning sign on a road 

Work on the Vicarage sewage pumping station, located on Carlton Road, will begin on October 1 and will be carried out by Yorkshire Water’s contractor partner, Avove.

The six-week project will involve laying two new sewers and constructing a manhole at a depth of three metres. The new sewers are designed to separate wastewater flows, creating extra capacity in the combined system.

Due to challenging ground conditions and a high-water table, specialised equipment will be required.

This additional capacity will provide greater protection for the pumping station during periods of heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of flooding in the area.

Jon Martin, asset planning sponsor at Yorkshire Water, said “This investment is designed to reduce the likelihood of wastewater flooding of the road, properties and gardens in the area.”

“We will be working as quickly as possible to complete the work and minimise disruption.”

Yorkshire Water is also conducting further surveys to model the area’s sewer network and identify additional measures to prevent future flooding.