Sewer repair work is delayed

Work to repair a collapsed sewer beneath one of Stafford's busiest roads has been delayed, with fears of more traffic problems next week.

Severn Trent Water bosses say efforts to repair the collapse, which happened on Monday on the A34 Queensville, have been hampered by the discovery of a gas main.

The gas main is running along the same trench.

The company was hoping to have a solution to the problem sorted earlier this week but problems have meant the work has yet to begin.

Temporary traffic lights on Monday night and Tuesday morning at the site of the collapse at the junction with Kent Way caused delays of more than an hour for motorists on the Lichfield Road.

The problems were compounded by the continuing roadworks along Newport Road.

The excavation work on Monday was stopped for safety reasons after the discovery of the cast iron gas main.

Severn Trent Water has been in talks with National Grid Gas to investigate whether the gas main is still in use and how best to repair the collapse safely.

The company says that repairs are not likely to start until next week — when the temporary traffic lights will be put back in place.

Currently the site has been fenced off and cars can pass freely at the site, although drivers have been warned that they are likely to face significant delays once work re-starts.

Gill Dickinson, spokesman for Severn Trent Water, said plans were still being drawn up to tackle the collapsed sewer and apologised again to drivers in Stafford.

She said: "We've not been able to progress further with the sewer pipe repair as we're still assessing how best to tackle what's needed.

"The excavated trench contains gas and water pipes as well the damaged sewer pipe, and we need to make sure we take a safe and practicable approach to the repairs.

"In the meantime, the excavation has been safely enclosed by barriers and traffic is able to flow freely past the spot."

She added: "We apologise for any inconvenience the delay in repairs may cause."