South East Water investment to improve resilience in east Kent

This project will see a total of approximately 16 kilometres of new water main installed in the area in two phases over the next two years.

This scheme is essential to ensure we can continue to provide top-quality drinking water to the area and will provide us with the flexibility to move water around our network more easily at times of disruption.

The work will be carried out in two phases:

• Phase 1 – Wichling/Doddington and Warren Street to Charing

This will take place from April 2023 to Autumn 2023 and will see 2.7 kilometres laid in the Wichling and Doddington area, and 5.7 kilometres from our service reservoir in Warren Street to The Pilgrims Way carriageway, Charing. Advance vegetation clearing works are expected to start in February. Further details on this phase are provided below.

• Phase 2 – Charing to Potters Corner

This will take place between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 and will see 7.4 kilometres of new pipeline laid between Charing and Potters Corner. Further details on this stage of the work will be provided as the scheme progresses.

The new water main will predominately be installed within private land utilising a combination of both horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching methods. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points. This method is being used to minimise the impact on the Pilgrims Way, a feature of national historic importance, as well as to protect environmentally sensitive areas and navigate other engineering challenges.

There will be occasions when we need to lay pipeline within roads. As a safety precaution for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and our workforce, we will need to close the following roads:

• Doddington/Wichling Work
  • Ringlestone Road (outside the South East Water pumping station).
  • Old Lenham Road (between its junctions with Lady Margaret Manor Road and The Street).
  • Hopes Hill (between The Street and Seed Road).
  • Seed Road (between Hopes Hill and The Street, Newnham).
• Warren Street to Charing Work
  • Rayners Hill (outside South East Water’s Warren Street Service Reservoir, Warren Street).
  • Hart Hill (between the A20 and its junction with Stonestile Farm Road).
  • The Pilgrims Way (between the A252 Charing Hill and Toll Lane).

Dates, durations and any relevant diversion routes will be advised closer to commencement of the works. We will also be required to close or manage numerous public rights of way as the scheme progresses.

Please be assured that access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times.

We want to work closely with yourselves and the communities impacted by this vital investment in our infrastructure, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the upcoming works in more detail.

If you could like to arrange a meeting with us, please email community@southeastwater.co.uk and we will arrange a session via Zoom.

We have also arranged in-person drop-in sessions for residents and businesses at the following times, and you are also welcome to attend should you wish:

• Doddington Village Hall, Monday 30 January, 5.00pm to 8.00pm
• Charing Village Hall, Friday 3 February, 5.00pm to 8.00pm

You and your community can keep up to date on the project by visiting southeastwater.co.uk/eastkent.

Thank you in advance for your support as we carry out this vital project.

Kind regards

Project Manager

South East Water, Rocfort Road, Snodland, Kent, ME6 5AH