Work starting to install a new water main in Cottenham

Posted: 10 July 2020

Update: 15 July 2020

We are aware that the proposed closure of Rampton Road has caused some concerns among local residents.

We are currently in discussion with the developer about an alternative route for this work and we are pleased to confirm that Rampton Road will now remain open until these discussions have been concluded.

We’d like to reassure you that before any future work in this area is started, we will fully engage with the local community and parish council.

We are very sorry for the distress caused by the original plans to close Rampton Road and thank you for your understanding and patience while we review the best way to carry out this work.

Work is due to start on an essential project to install a new water main in Cottenham for a new housing estate.

Where:

The new 750m water main will be installed in Rampton Road, Cottenham with a connection into Oakington Road.

When:

The work will start on 27 July 2020 and will take up to six weeks.

Will traffic be affected?

In order to carry out the works as safely and efficiently as possible in the narrow roads, there will be a road closure in place from the traffic island on Oakington Road up to the new housing development site. Access to frontages will be maintained during the works.

(For works such as these we try to use temporary traffic lights whenever possible but in order to comply with regulations, we would need to allow 3.5 metres for the traffic to come through. This would leave 2.5 metres for us to carry out the work, which would not be enough to accommodate the necessary plant and machinery.)

For details of the road closure see One.network.

“We are carrying out planned works to install a new water main for a housing development in the area, with 750 metres of water main to be installed along Rampton Road.

In order to do this safely, we will need to close the road. I know that unfortunately this will cause a lot of disruption for local residents, so we’ve worked very closely with the Council to plan the works and have agreed that it will take place during the school holiday to try and minimise disruption to local residents.

Following feedback from residents we have made arrangements to increase the numbers in the crew, extend our working hours during the week and work during the weekends, so that we can reduce the length of time the work will take and minimise the inconvenience. By doing this we aim to reduce the duration of the work by two weeks.”

Ciaran Kelly, head of operations at Cambridge Water.