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We’re carrying out a multi-million-pound investment to create a more resilient water supply network within Wealden.

In a direct response to recent incidents, we are investing £12.1 million installing approximately 17 kilometres of new pipeline between our water treatment works at Bewl and our drinking water storage tanks at Wadhurst and Rotherfield.

Along with upgrades to our Bewl Water Treatment Works, this project will provide a more resilient network, allowing us to maintain customer supplies more readily during unexpected disruptions.

This project also means that we will be preventing the transfer of a non-native invasive species between the reservoirs at Bewl and Darwell and a nearby treatment works.

Work started in April 2024, with advanced vegetation clearance beginning in February.

Our teams are working as quickly and as safely as possible to minimise disruption.

As well as this project, we are also planning works in Rother, to install approximately 1.6 kilometres of new pipeline between our storage tanks in Flimwell and Bedgebury; planning upgrades to our water treatment works at Bewl Water; and will be replacing approximately 6.5 kilometres of water main in the Punnetts Town area, all as part of a wider plan to enhance resilience of the network in the area.

Current working area

We are currently working in private land and the B2100 (Best Beech Hill/Wadhurst Road). This road is currently closed at the junction with Best Beech Lane and Tidebrook Road, both of which are also closed while we work at the junction.

The project is taking place in two main sections, with teams working on both at the same time:

Section 1: Wadhurst to Bewl Water Treatment Works – Approximately eight kilometres of new water main between our Wadhurst storage tank and our treatment works at Bewl.

Section 2: Wadhurst to Rotherfield – Approximately nine kilometres of new water main between our treated drinking water storage tanks at Wadhurst and Rotherfield.

You can see the whole route above, including where we have completed work and currently working, or download the two sections below.

Project Programme

Please be aware that this programme is to be used as a guideline only and may change depending on how work progresses. Please check the project updates(opens in a new tab) below.

We have multiple teams working throughout the life of the scheme. Their working hours will be 8.00am to 6.00pm weekdays and 8.00am to 1.00pm on any required Saturdays. There may be times during these hours when you do not see the team on site – this could be for a number of reasons including allowing concrete or the road surface to set or testing the new main. During these periods, please continue to follow traffic management to ensure the safety of everyone.

The tables below show the outline programme. Roads marked 'Road Crossing' signify short duration closures while we cross from one side of the road to another. Those marked 'Road Closure' denote longer works along a length of the carriageway.

Section 1: Bewl Water Treatment Works to Wadhurst

LocationAnticipated date
Newbury Lane (Road closure)Completed
Monks Lane (Road closure)Completed
Woods Green (Road closure)Completed
Wyck Lane (Road crossing)Completed
Buckland Hill (Road crossing)Completed
Bewlbridge Lane (Road crossing)Completed
Whitegates Lane (Road closure)Completed
Three Oaks Lane (Road closure)Completed
The Slade/Cousley Wood Road (Road crossing)Completed
Old Station Road (Road closure)Completed
Three Oaks Lane (Road crossing near junction with Whitegates Lane)Completed
Tapsells Lane (Road closure)Completed
Sleepers Stile Road (Road crossing)11 November to 19 November
Lower Cousley Wood Road (Road crossing)11 November to 19 November
Sweetings Lane11 November to 19 November
Station Road (Road crossing under temporary traffic lights)Completed
Newbury Lane (Road crossing just south of Oakenshaw)Completed

Section 2: Wadhurst to Rotherfield

LocationAnticipated date
Sheriff's Lane (Road closure)Completed
Yew Tree Lane (HDD monitoring only)Completed
Lake Street (Road closure)Completed
Tunbridge Wells Road (HDD monitoring only)Drilling has been completed, two way temporary lights will be required for local works (TBC)
Rotherhurst Lane (Road crossing)Completed
High Cross (Road crossing)17 February 2025 to 20 February 2025
Sheriff's Lane (Road crossing)Completed
Mayfield Lane (Road closure - east from junction with Tidebrook Road to Beech Hill House)Completed
Best Beech Hill (Road closure - from junction with Tidebrook Road to Beechlands Cottages)26 October 2024 to 24 March 2025*
Wadhurst Road (Road closure - Beechlands Cottages to Beggars Bush)3 February 2025 to 24 March 2025*
Best Beech Lane11 November 2024 to 9 December 2024

*Works along Wadhurst Road and Best Beech Hill will be a rolling road closure within the timeframe specified. As work progresses along the road, side roads will be closed, including Best Beech Lane, Buckhurst Lane, Tidebrook Road and Fairglen Road.

Work will also be taking place in Best Beech Lane to install an additional 200 metres of new pipeline to support the network. This will take place between Monday 11 November and Monday 9 December.

Traffic management and diversion routes

While most of the work will be in private land, this project will require us to either cross or work within several roads and public rights of way.

The affected roads are shown below. Please click the road to see the diversion route.

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Public Rights of Way

As our new pipeline stretches across 17 kilometres of countryside, we will need to cross public rights of way on multiple occasions.

We will be impacting parts of several footpaths, bridleways and byways, with differing levels of disruption. This will be kept to a minimum, and the teams will work as quickly as possible.

In addition, there is a small diversion for part of the Mayfield and Five Ashes 38b Bridleway. This can be seen below.

For further details of closures, please visit the East Sussex County Council(opens in a new tab) website.

Graphic showing diversion for part of Mayfield and Fives Ashes 38b Bridleway
Diversion for part of Mayfield and Fives Ashes 38b Bridleway
(opens in a new tab)

FAQs

This new pipe will connect our water treatment works at Bewl Water with our fresh drinking water storage tanks in Wadhurst and Rotherfield.

Combined with upgrades at the Bewl treatment works and at our storage tank in Wadhurst, this will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network and improve our resilience in the area.

The project is also in response to a requirement to prevent the transfer of a non-native invasive species, zebra mussels.

This project will provide us with greater flexibility to move water around our network at times of disruption and so this does mean that when there are supply issues, it will be easier for us to reroute water from around the network.

Along with upgrades to the storage tank in Wadhurst and our treatment works at Bewl Water, this will mean we will be better able to keep water flowing around the network in East Sussex.

We are finalising the programme of works. Advance clearance of vegetation has started, with construction scheduled to begin early to mid-April. The project is expected to take around 18 months in total.

The majority of work is taking place in private land. The new pipeline will be installed using a combination of horizontal directional drilling and traditional trenching techniques. Horizontal directional drilling involves excavating two pits and tunnelling the new pipe underground between these two points.

In addition, rather than working from one end of the scheme through to the other, we will have multiple teams working on two sections at the same time.

Section 1: Wadhurst to Rotherfield – Approximately nine kilometres

Section 2: Wadhurst to Bewl Water Treatment Works – Approximately eight kilometres

Teams will be working from 8.00am to 6.00pm on weekdays, and 8.00am to 1.00pm on any required Saturdays.

As we install the new main, there will be several short closures as we cross a road, and some longer closures as we work in the carriageway.

Buckland Hill

High Cross

Lake Street

Mayfield Lane / Best Beech Hill / Wadhurst Road

Monks Lane

Newbury Lane

Old Station Road

Rotherhurst Lane

Sheriff’s Lane

Sleeper Stile Road / Cousley Wood Lane

The Slade

Woods Green

Whitegates Lane

Three Oaks Lane

Dates and durations will be advised closer to commencement of the works.

The diversion routes, agreed by East Sussex County Council Highways, will be clearly signposted for the duration of the works. For those requiring diversion routes, these are available on this webpage.

While we know traffic management can be disruptive, the safety of both the public and our workforce is a priority. Road closures will be kept to the shortest duration possible to minimise impact to customers and motorists.

When creating a diversion, we are required to offer a route which follows the same class (or above) of the road we are closing. For example, when we close a B road, the diversion needs to follow other B roads or above.

We are aware that local residents may know quicker ways to navigate around a diversion route. However, we do not encourage this, again for safety, and advise all traffic to follow the official diversion route at all times.

Road signs will be placed in advance to reinforce this message and advise of the diversion route. Signage will remain in place for the duration of each road closure, and we urge people not to tamper with these.

We work in phases along the road, usually 50-100m sections, to maintain access for residents and businesses. When using the trenching method, we will excavate the section of road, lay the pipe and return the working area to its original state before we move to the next section. This may mean that the direction you take to enter or leave your property may change as we move along the road.

Bin collections and deliveries will still be able to access properties for the duration of our work, they will need to follow the diversion routes as signposted throughout. Our team on site will be able to support these if necessary by ensuring the excavations are safe to cross.

This will depend on the nature of the road and the surface. We will usually only resurface where we have excavated. However, if the road surface breaks up when we excavate, or if there are existing joints or the end of the carriageway in close proximity we may resurface beyond our works.

No. Once we have completed construction in one area, we will return the site to its original state and remove any temporary structures that were needed during the works. This may take time if, for example, we are working in a field and need to plant seed in the appropriate season to encourage growth. There may be small markers and fenced areas to allow access to the network for maintenance, but the majority of the landscape will be returned to how it was before we started.

We have already started to clear vegetation such as hedgerows to reduce the risk of nesting birds being present before the nesting bird season begins. All vegetation clearance is being undertaken with supervision by an ecologist to ensure no protected species are harmed by the works under the terms of two protected species licences prescribed by Natural England for Great Crested Newts and Dormice.

Trees that do not need to be removed but are next to the works will be protected with track matting and tree protection fencing to minimise the risk of damage to tree roots. All hedgerows and trees that are being removed will be replanted in the next available planting season following completion of the works.

There will be a short interruption to supply when we need to connect the new pipeline to the existing main. However, we will provide 48 hours notice prior to this happening, and whenever possible will avoid peak times of water usage.

Customers with additional needs be it a disability, mental health or financial concerns can sign up to our Priority Services Register to help us understand how we can help you. More information can be found at southeastwater.co.uk/priority.

A dedicated webpage – southeastwater.co.uk/wealden – will be updated as work progresses, but if you have any concerns during the work, the staff on site will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to speak to us direct, please call our Customer Technical Centre on 0333 000 1100 or email us at customerservices@southeastwater.co.uk

To register for free text or email updates about work in your area, visit aqualerter.southeastwater.co.uk/manage-alerts(opens in a new tab)

Project updates

Project updates



Tuesday, 29 October 2024
09:46 AM

Work continued within private land last week, with a further 200 metres of new pipeline laid. On Saturday, we closed the B2100 (Best Beech Hill) at the junctions with Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane as planned, to begin our rolling road closure along the B2100.


Thursday, 24 October 2024
14:00 PM

Road closure reminder

A reminder that we’ll be closing the B2100 at the junction with Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane from Saturday 26 October, as the start of a rolling road closure along this road.

We’ll be working in small sections and reopening before we move along working towards Buckhurst Lane.


Friday, 18 October 2024
07:57 AM

We’ve now passed the halfway mark on this project, with 8,712 metres of new pipeline installed across the scheme. Just under 200 metres was laid this week in private land. Next week, we’ll be welding new pipeline and preparing for our next road closure. This will be from Saturday 26 October, at the junction of Best Beech Lane, Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Hill (B2100). This will be a rolling road closure along the B2100 (Best Beech Hill into Wadhurst Road. Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane will be closed while we work at the junction and will reopen as soon as we move along the B2100.


Tuesday, 15 October 2024
08:00 AM

We’ve completed work laying a section of the new water main across Newbury Lane, with the road reopened on Wednesday 9 October and on the same day we finished connecting the new pipeline into Bewl Water Treatment Works. A total of 8,437 metres has now been laid.

We’re currently solely working within private land, with the next section of road working scheduled to begin on Saturday 26 October on the B2100 (Best Beech Hill) at the junction with Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane. These roads will be closed while we work at the junction.

Once we’ve completed the work at the junction, Tidebrook Road and Best Beech Lane will be reopened. We’ll then work west along Best Beech Hill and into Wadhurst Road as far as the junction with Buckhurst Lane, closing the road for short sections at a time. Once we’ve completed one area, we’ll make that part of the road safe to use again before moving to the next section.


Monday, 7 October 2024
08:51 AM

We’re just under half way through laying the total pipework required for this project, with a total of 7,195 metres now installed across the scheme. Today, 7 October, we’ll be closing Newbury Lane until Wednesday to lay a section of water main across the carriageway. A diversion is in place while we carry out this work. We’ll also be completing the required work to connect the new main into the water treatment works at Bewl Water. Work is also continuing in private land across the scheme.


Monday, 30 September 2024
13:18 PM

A further 260 metres of new water main was laid this week, including drilling alongside Lake Street, a complex process due to the location of two high pressure gas mains. Working closely with SGN, we drilled deep enough to avoid disturbing these and successfully complete the drill.

We’ve completed work in Tapsells Lane and the road was reopened over the weekend.


Monday, 23 September 2024
08:43 AM

Last week, a further 342 metres of new pipeline was laid, taking our total to just over 6.5 kilometres. This week, we’ll be installing a section of new pipeline in private land near to Lake Street using the directional drilling method. We’ll also be continuing work in Tapsells Lane and there will also be temporary traffic lights in place on Station Road as we carry out trial hole excavations on Monday.

We’re preparing for work on Wadhurst Road, and are working with East Sussex Highways to confirm the best date for this work to take place.


Monday, 16 September 2024
08:47 AM

We’re continuing work on Tapsells Lane, with another 60 metres laid last week, with an aim to complete this section of work by the end of the week. Work in Wyck Lane is expected to complete today, with the road being reopened this evening.

Work is progressing in private land across the route, with preparations being made this week for directional drilling next week in land near Lake Street.


Monday, 9 September 2024
07:58 AM

To date, we’ve laid just over 5,660 metres of new pipeline across this project, including 1,345 metres laid last week. The majority of this took place in private land, west of Sleepers Stile Road. This week, we’ll be continuing to work Wyck Lane and Tapsells Lane.

Our permit has been granted by Highways for the work required on Wadhurst Road, and this will begin on Monday 7 October under a rolling road closure.


Monday, 2 September 2024
13:00 PM

We’ve completed work on the Mayfield Road section of the B2100 and this was reopened over the weekend. We will need to return to complete work on Best Beech Hill and Wadhurst Road and will update once dates are finalised for this section in conjunction with East Sussex Highways.

Work has also been completed at Old Station Road and Three Oaks Lane. We’ve now moved to Tapsell’s Lane and the road is now closed while we carry out this section of the project. We will also be crossing Wyck Lane this week.


Monday, 19 August 2024
08:30 AM

Project update

We are continuing to make good progress on Mayfield Lane, with a further 64 metres installed in this section. Work will continue this week in Mayfield Lane under a road closure, with reinstatement also set to take place.

Reinstatement will also take place in the bottom half of Old Station Road this week, with the road closure set to progress up the road once the surface has been returned to its original condition.


Monday, 5 August 2024
08:00 AM

To date, we’ve laid 2,232 metres of new pipeline across this project. We’re making good progress on Mayfield Lane and urge all road users to follow to signposted diversion route. We’ll be continuing to work in Mayfield Lane this week.

We’ve completed the drill across Yew Tree Lane, laying a total of 180 metres from one side to the other, and have also completed work in Whitegates Lane, with the road closure was lifted over the weekend. Towards the end of last week, we started work at the junction of Three Oaks Lane and Old Station Road, with this section of work expected to take approximately five weeks.

We started work in Bewlbridge Lane and expect to complete this and lift the road closure later this week.


Monday, 29 July 2024
15:19 PM

We’ve now laid more than two kilometres of new pipeline across the project. We have been installing a new section of main crossing beneath Yew Tree Lane using the directional drilling technique, and expect to complete this section during this week. We have also started work in Mayfield Lane, working east from Tidebrook Road. A diversion is in place, as agreed with East Sussex Highways.

Work has been completed in Whitegates Lane, and the road has now been returned to its original state and reopened. This week, we’ll be working in Three Oaks Road, at the junction with Old Station Road. This will be closed once we have completed work at the top of Three Oaks Lane near the junction with Whitegates Lane and reopened the road at that end. We will also be starting work in Bewlbridge Lane.


Monday, 22 July 2024
08:15 AM

We’ve now laid a total of 1,604 metres across the project. Work has been completed within Buckland Hill, Cousley Wood Road and Rotherhurst Lane, with all now reopened. Working is continuing along Whitegates Lane, towards the junction with Three Oaks Lane.

This week, we will be starting to drill a section of pipe to cross Yew Tree Lane and from Wednesday 24 July, Mayfield Lane will be closed east from junction with Tidebrook Road to Beech Hill House. A diversion route will be in place, agreed with East Sussex Highways.


Monday, 8 July 2024
10:02 AM

Key milestone reached

We’re pleased to say the first kilometre of new pipeline has now been installed, with the milestone being reached last week. We have now laid a total of 1,051 metres of new water main.

This week, work continues in Buckland Hill under a road closure, with a diversion route in place. We’re expecting to complete this section of work and reopen the road by the weekend.

We’ll also be starting work in Whitegates Lane towards the end of the week. This will require the road to be closed for three weeks. We will also be closing the B2100 Lower Cousley Wood Road on 12 July, and this will be closed until early next week. Both roads have a diversion route, agreed by East Sussex Highways, in place and signposted for the duration of the work.


Monday, 1 July 2024
10:28 AM

Work moves to Buckland Hill

We’ve now completed work in Woods Green, with the road returned to its original condition and reopened. To date, we’ve laid a total of 796 metres of new pipeline across the project. We’ve also been carrying out work in private land, stripping topsoil and welding pipe in preparation for installation.

This week, we will be preparing to cross Buckland Hill(opens in a new tab), which will be closed while we do this.


Monday, 24 June 2024
07:54 AM

Work starts in Woods Green

We’ve completed work in Monk’s Lane and the road is now open. On Wednesday last week, we started work in Woods Green, excavating and laying new water main. We’ve now laid a total of 744 metres of new pipework.

We’re continuing to weld lengths of pipeline ready for installation and are stripping topsoil in private land in preparation for laying sections of main. We’ll be welcoming sniffer dogs to site this week, to help detect the presence of Great Crested Newts, a protected species.


Monday, 17 June 2024
13:38 PM

Project update

Last week, we completed our work in Lake Street, having installed a total of 140 metres of new water main within the carriageway. In Monk’s Lane, we installed 50 metres of new pipeline, and prepared to return the working area to its original state this week. We aim to reopen the road on Tuesday. To date, we’ve installed just under 730 metres of pipework.

This week, we’ll be carrying out work to continue preparing pipework for installation. We’ve also been busy with this project in private land, stripping back topsoil in the areas we’ll be working. When doing this, we’ve ensured there is supervision from expert archaeologists and are using trained sniffer dogs to detect the presence of Great Crested Newts.


Monday, 10 June 2024
13:38 PM

Project update

Work is complete in Newbury Lane and the road was reopened as planned last week. In Monk’s Lane, the road was closed on Tuesday, with excavation beginning on Wednesday and continuing throughout the week. In Lake Street, a further 80 metres was excavated, and a total of 120 metres of new pipeline was laid. This takes us out of the carriageway, and we plan to reopen the road on Tuesday evening (11 June).


Tuesday, 4 June 2024
15:18 PM

Work to begin in Monks Lane

We have completed the work required in Sheriff’s Lane and the road was reopened as planned on 28 May. We moved into Lake Street, with traffic management placed on Tuesday, with approximately 40 metres excavated, while in Newbury Lane, we’ve installed 126 metres of pipeline. Newbury Lane is expected to be reopened today, Monday 3 June.


We are also starting work in Monk’s Lane, with traffic management in place today. This closure is expected to last three weeks.


Tuesday, 28 May 2024
12:48 PM

Work begins in Lake Street

We’ve now installed a total of 406 metres of new water main in Sheriff’s Lane, having laid a further 38 metres this week, taking us out of the road and into private land. We are aiming to have the road returned to its original state and reopened by the end of today.

In Newbury Lane, we’ve excavated 118 metres and welded the pipe ready to be laid this week. We’ll also be aiming to start returning this working area to its original state by the end of the week.

We are also going to be starting work in Lake Street, with excavations starting this week. We will need to close the road while we complete this section as we will be crossing from one side of the road to the other. A diversion route(opens in a new tab) is in place.


Monday, 20 May 2024
12:24 PM

A new work front

We’re continuing to work in Sheriff’s Lane, excavating a further 120 metres, and have started to return 70 metres of previously excavated sections to their original state. In total, we’ve laid 368 metres of new pipeline. We’re now also starting work in Newbury Lane, with the road closure set up last Monday and excavating 70 metres during the week.

This week, we’ll be completing excavations in Newbury Lane, and installing 128 metres of new water main. In Sheriff’s Lane, we’ll be installing the remaining 22 metres in the carriageway before heading into private land.


Monday, 29 April 2024
10:20 AM

Progress in Sheriff's Lane

Work continues in Sheriff’s Lane, with just under 100 metres of the road excavated. Within this excavation, we’ve laid 48 metres of new water pipe, and have started to relay the road surface on just over 30 metres.

We expect to install a further 50 metres this week.


Monday, 22 April 2024
08:00 AM

Work begins

We have now started work on this project, with our compounds established in key locations and Sheriff’s Lane now closed to through traffic.

A number of specific trees on our route will be under survey as we watch for the nesting of bats or ensure roots are not disturbed. In areas of interest, archaeologists will be monitoring progress as we remove topsoil on the pipe route.

Breaking ground on site
Welded pipeline awaiting installation
Excavating in Lake Street

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