Berrick Salome Parish Drainage Group – Update 9th November 2025

Few of you will have failed to notice the presence of road tankers in Rokemarsh during recent weeks.

The reason they have had to be deployed is that McAllister hit a problem. Whilst working on lining the section between the watercress beds/fishing pond and the Rokemarsh pumping station, the operation failed, and caused a blockage.

This blockage needed to be by-passed. Hence the use of road tankers on a continuous basis since the blockage occurred.

The wastewater from Roke has been extracted from the manhole close to the T-Junction and put back into the system by pumping into the Rokemarsh pumping station.

Several properties in Rokemarsh, whose wastewater normally flows into the damaged section were thus cut off from the sewer main. These properties have also had to be pumped out by road tanker.

Thames Water advised on 31.10.25 that 3 options were being considered in order to clear the blockage:

Q:

Option 1: Use a high-pressure jetting unit to cut out the failed liner.

Option 2: Use a high-pressure robotic cutter, operated from above ground, to carry out a similar process to Option 1.

Option 3: Excavate to access and remove the defective liner.

UQ:

On 07.11.25 Thames Water confirmed:

Q:
1. We are proceeding with Option 1. If this goes well, we will not need to move on to Options 2 or 3.
2. High-pressure jetting is scheduled to start on the 13th November.
3. We will have clearer idea of how long the work will take next week and will keep you informed of progress.
UQ:

On 31.10.25 Thames Water also advised that they planned to install an over pump system from the manhole close to the T-Junction, across the fields to the Rokemarsh pumping station.

That is now in place and operating as of 07.11.25 afternoon.

The over pump will eliminate the need for a tanker to be stationed on the road close to the T-Junction. However, there will still be tankers required (albeit reduced) to continue pumping the wastewater from the abovementioned properties and drop it at the Rokemarsh pumping station. The road tankers will only disappear once the blockage is cleared, the failed liner repaired/replaced and all properties are reconnected to the system.

Earlier this week, the weight of traffic having to navigate past the tanker at the T-Junction, caused damage to the fresh water main under the road. This caused a flood and required the road to be closed between the T-Junction and Harrow Corner.

The leak was repaired by Thames Water 06.11.25 and the road was opened again during the morning of 07.11.25

Meanwhile, Thames Water also confirmed on 31.10.25, that the planned road closures in Roke and Rokemarsh will proceed as scheduled, between 10.11.25 and 05.12.25.

These closures are required to execute lining and sealing operations on public roads. A link to relevant maps was included in the email update sent out by the Parish Clerk on 17.10.25:
BSPDG Update 17/10/25

Our understanding is that the Roke road (between HSH and the T-Junction) will be closed first.

Once that work is concluded and the road reopened, the section from the Orchard around Harrow Corner and up to Cobblers Cottage will be closed for the work to be done there.

We will continue to press Thames Water for updates and share them across the parish as and when received.

Neil Godfrey
For and on behalf of BSPDG