LONG-AWAITED improvements to sewers in the heart of Droitwich Spa are finally going ahead in June, the Advertiser reveals.

Work will force the closure of a stretch of the Saltway for three months but could mean the town's cobbled High Street gets a much-needed revamp.

Severn Trent will re-line a collapsed sewer pipe and repair six cross-connection foul and storm pipes in the High Street.

Flooding

It will also bury a holding tank under the Saltway and aims to reduce flooding and increase capacity in case of heavy rain.

Droitwich Spa Town Council, traders and residents have complained about flooding and poor paving in the High Street for several years.

A water company spokeswoman said: "To cause minimal disruption, High Street repairs will be carried out on alternative Sundays, although the re-lining of the sewer pipe, which collapsed because of high salt content in the soil, will take two days and run onto a Monday.

"Affected customers should receive further information by post shortly."

A timetable of works is being drawn up and the cost has not been unveiled.

Wychavon Highways Partnership Unit has been in talks with Severn Trent and expects to enforce a diversion between St George's Square and the Ricketts Lane junction.

The unit's senior maintenance technician, Andrew Wynn, said re-surfacing the High Street was now being considered.

He added: "The work by Severn Trent has been on the cards for some time, and obviously we did not want to go ahead with re-surfacing if the road was going to be dug up."

Town mayor Terry Spencer, a former High Street trader, welcomed the news but hopes any road closures will not harm trade.

Victorian

"There have been terrible problems because of the Victorian and pre-Victorian sewerage systems but I'm glad they are being tackled at long last."

Wychavon district councillor Don Lawley (Con - Droit.South) said confirmation of the Waitrose development encouraged Severn Trent to complete the work, partly because a pumping station in the Spa market hall will be moved and incorporated into the supermaket scheme.