Nottingham Tram Operator Faces £200,000 Bill After Sewage Flooding
Nottingham’s tram operator is facing a hefty clean-up bill after sewage spills onto tracks during recent flooding
Nottingham, UK, Tram Operator, Sewage, Flooding, Keolis
Nottingham: The tram operator in Nottingham is dealing with a big mess after floodwaters mixed with sewage and spilled onto the tracks. This happened on Wilford Lane, where the tram stop is located, and it’s not the first time this has occurred. Heavy rain at the start of January caused the flooding again.
Last year, the same road was closed for four days during Storm Henk, which left some folks stuck in their homes. Keolis, along with Nottingham Trams Limited, runs the tram network under the Nottingham Express Transit name.
Andrew Conroy, the chief operating officer, mentioned in a meeting that the flooding has led to significant clean-up costs. He explained that there’s a valve at Iremongers Pond that controls water flow. If the water level rises too high, it can’t drain properly, causing backups on Wilford Lane.
While the water wasn’t too high this time, it still caused issues. The drains brought in contaminated water, which means they have to clean up the tram network. Conroy didn’t go into detail about what was in the water, but he said it would cost them hundreds of thousands to replace the ballast, which is the stone base that supports the tracks.
Trevor Stocker, the head of operations, added that they’re working with local authorities to understand the flooding better. He pointed out that the water isn’t just surface water anymore; it’s contaminated, and that’s a problem that needs to be addressed by Severn Trent, the water company.
Stocker emphasized that they need to replace the ballast, but it won’t help if the same flooding happens again next winter. He noted that Wilford Lane is a crucial route, and finding a solution will require cooperation from others.
Nottingham City Council has been in talks with various authorities about managing surface water and improving drainage on Wilford Lane. They’re looking into what can be done to prevent this from happening again. Severn Trent has been contacted for their input on the situation.