A NEW pumping station and better drains are being promised in Upton Upon Severn, as a new programme of work begins.

Severn Trent is installing the new pumping station in the green space in New Street.

In addition, new pressurised pipework is being installed to prevent sewage flooding.

The work is expected to take around nine months to complete and is due to begin later this year.

In an update to residents, Severn Trent said: "The wastewater system in Upton Upon Severn has been showing its age in recent years so we are making some upgrades so it can meet the demands of a modern community.

"During 2022, we'll be spending £1.1million in Upton Upon Severn to build a new pumping station and associated pipework.

"We'll also be restoring some older parts of the network to complete the upgrades within Upton."

The original plans from Severn Trent were to build a new pumping station at the back of the playing fields.

The current location is now not adequate for the larger pumps and storage needed, hence the building of a new pumping station rather than an upgrade to the existing one.

Severn Trent is currently waiting on contractors, meaning there is some uncertainty over the timescales for the work.

The previous seven-month timescale for the work now appears likely to take nine or ten months as the design has been changed since the original planning application.

More flow will be moved from the pumping station to the treatment works further up New Street.

To make the system work more effectively, stormwater will be pumped back into the Severn.

At the moment, the water backs up the existing gravity pipes and will be replaced by a storm overflow which will be routed to the new pumping station underneath New Street and the Hanley Road Car Park.

According to a town council spokesperson, most of the work will be carried out in the field, so there should be limited disruption to the roads through Upton.

Councillors heard an update on the progress of the plans at a council meeting in February.

Then-mayor Cllr Henrietta Ross said work was finally set to begin in late-2022 or early-2023.