Better water in pipeline

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water plan to start the refurbishment programme in St Arvans before improving the mains system in the surrounding area.

The scheme involves renewing and refurbishing 38km of water mains in St Arvans, Chepstow, Sedbury and Devauden.

The scheme will be completed by the end of December 2003 and Welsh Water say this will not only ensure top quality drinking water but will also improve the reliability of supply.

Phase one of the scheme in St Arvans will improve 2km of the existing water mains and will start on Monday, March 31, lasting eight weeks.

Work will be concentrated in the village, on the Devauden Road, and temporary traffic lights are being set up.

The company says it wants to cause minimum disruption to local people and all customers will receive an information pack on how the work will impact on them. The upgrade is necessary because the existing system struggles to cope with the increased use.

A boom in housing development around the communities of St Arvans, Chepstow, Sedbury and Devauden is placing too much strain on the old mains system.

Councillor Colin White said: "With all the new buildings going up we need a new system. Sewerage was always the big problem because of over capacity caused by all the new houses and I do not know how we are going to solve this problem."

The refurbishment scheme is being delivered by Laing Utilities, working with United Utilities and Chandler KBS.

A public exhibition was held at the St Arvans Memorial Hall, last night. Representatives from the project team were on hand to explain the nature of the work and answer questions.

Andrew Swift, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water investment manager, said: "This investment will help us deliver excellent quality drinking water to our customers.

"All customers who will be affected by the work will be notified. "We will do all we can to keep inconvenience to a minimum and we ask that people bear with us whilst we carry out this important work."