Thames Water apologises over collapsed sewer in Marlow

Tankers are out in Marlow providing water to residents after a sewer collapse in Gossmore Lane continues to cause problems.

Due to high flows in its sewer network, Thames Water tankers ‘have been all over the area’ for several weeks.

In a letter to neighbours on May 9, Thames Water explained that ‘further investigations have shown there are additional issues’ and customers were experiencing ‘loss of facilities’.

A camera survey of the sewers discovered a defect ‘contributing to the drainage problems.

As such, the company needed to set up an over pump on the junction of Gossmore Lane and Gossmore Walk.

Investigations were carried out at the sewage pumping station (SPS) to ensure this is also operating as it should be.

The company has apologised to residents for ‘the increase in noise and movement in the area’, with tankers and pumps in use 24 hours a day to ‘prevent any flooding and pollution to the environment.’

Thames Water’s contractors Cappagh are carrying out the repairs.

The letter to residents coincided with reports that two Thames Water executives said they will give up their annual bonuses due to the firm’s poor performance.

In a statement, Thames Water said that ‘extraordinary energy costs’ and ‘two severe weather events’ had affected customer service and environmental performance in 2022/23.

CEO of Thames Water, Sarah Bentley, had said they are ‘a relatively new team executing an eight-year turnaround plan to transform Thames Water’ but the company was ‘not yet where I want it to be’ and it ‘simply didn't feel right’ to take a bonus against this backdrop.

Thames Water is in the second year of its plan to ‘address ageing and deteriorating infrastructure, a legacy of under-investment and poor performance.’

In the last 12 months, there has been ‘significant progress,’ including the launch of a £1.6billion programme to modernise sewage infrastructure and improve river health.

Of the Marlow works, a Thames Water spokesperson said:

“We are sorry to residents of Gossmore Road who have experienced disruption whilst we carry out necessary sewer repairs.

“This is a complex repair, and as such, we expect work to continue for another few weeks.

“We currently have tankers in place across Marlow to ensure customers can continue to flush their loos and to protect them from flooding.”