Sewer works to shut road until at least Christmas

Evendons Lane has been closed again by issues with its sewers

Deep sewer repairs which have angered residents and businesses since August will take until at least Christmas, a council has said.

Access through Evendons Lane in Wokingham has been shut by what Wokingham Council said are "deep underground gaps which pose a risk".

Residents said diversions have sent drivers on much longer routes with relatively short journeys taking half an hour and the council said it is "postponing non-essential works to minimise further congestion".

Thames Water, which was criticised by residents for a lack of communication, apologised for the disruption and said a specialist contractor will need to carry out the work to the sewer.

The council said Thames Water was "finalising a plan to manage sand and water levels, as previous repair efforts were hampered by the ground collapsing."

Evendons Primary School was briefly shut in October 2022 after a lorry fell into a sinkhole caused by a collapsed sewer in Evendons Lane.

The primary school was closed after the lorry fell into a sinkhole in October 2022

Resident Sarah Kerr said people had long reported the most recent failing road surface before the water company acknowledged it was an issue.

"Thames Water assured us that they had checked the infrastructure on our road to ensure it didn't happen again and here we are with…a similar problem," she added.

Nick Lander, the director of the Kimel Community Cafe, in Evendons Lane, said the repairs had made operating "very difficult", with takings about 20% down.

He said diversions around Wokingham have made things so difficult that the cafe has needed to collect its own supplies rather than waiting for deliveries.

"We're having to work doubly hard to get some money through the door," he added.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused by our sewer repair work on Evendons Lane.

"The repairs have proven more complex than initially anticipated due to challenging ground conditions and the depth of the sewer.

"As a result, we've had to temporarily pause works while we bring in a specialist contractor. They are currently coordinating additional surveys to help us plan the next steps.

"We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. Please be assured that we remain committed to progressing the repairs as quickly and safely as possible."