Tree planting marks end of £3m sewer scheme (From Worcester News)

Tree planting marks end of £3m sewer scheme

5:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By James Connell

TREES have been planted during a ceremony to mark the completion of £3 million sewer improvement works which have taken 38 homes off the flood risk register.

The ceremony, organised by Severn Trent Water, involved planting three Snowy Mespil trees, at Patterdale Drive, Warndon, Worcester.

The tree-planting was attended by the mayor of Worcester and representatives of Severn Trent and partners Morgan Sindall, the construction and regeneration group. Nagen Nagendran, senior programme engineer at Severn Trent Water, said: “We hope that the trees will make a difference to the local community and environment.

“Since we started work in February, we’ve carried out a complex project which included installing 1,700 metres of new pipes and constructing a pumped storage tank. We’d like to thank local residents for their patience whilst we carried out the improvements.” Snowy Mespil trees produce tiny white star-shaped flowers in the spring. During the year, the leaves change from silver to shades of coppery orange and red. They produce small berries in the autumn.

Worcester Mayor Councillor Roger Berry said: “The trees that Severn Trent have planted will be a beautiful addition to the area.

“I hope that Warndon residents will enjoy watching them bloom and grow over the seasons for many years to come.

“Although the work has caused disruption in the area, it will prevent sewer flooding which has caused so many problems for the residents in the past.”

Mike Rothwell, head of property investment at Worcester Community Housing, said: “It was a large and complicated job that was well managed and well executed.”