One-way system for sewer work

A one-way system is to be introduced on a busy town centre street as part of Newark’s £60m sewer replacement scheme.

The change will be in force on Castlegate, from the Beastmarket Hill roundabout to the bus station on Lombard Street, from Monday, February 19, until June.

People are being urged to continue coming into the town centre while the work is taking place.

It is the most significant phase so far of Severn Trent’s scheme.

The clerk to Newark Town Council, Mr Alan Mellor, said: “The next phase of the work along Castlegate will impact on the town centre.

“A significant amount of effort and thought has been given by Severn Trent, Nottinghamshire County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council to put in place measures that mitigate and minimise the impact of this work on the town centre.

“The introduction of the one-way system may still, however, cause some disruption to traffic flows and people’s patience over the next few months will be appreciated.

“However, the message is that Newark town centre will be open for business during this period and I would urge the local community to continue to use it for shopping and all its other facilities.”

Mr Mellor said major improvements to the town’s sewerage system were long overdue.

'So much planning'

During the Castlegate work free shuttle buses, provided by Travel Wright, Marshalls and Stagecoach, will circulate the town centre from Monday to Saturday, from 6.30am to 7.30pm, every 15 minutes.

Mr Nick Wallace, of Severn Trent, said: “Last year we launched the Siege Breaker, which is still tunnelling under the streets of Newark.

“Now we need to connect the existing sewer pipes to this tunnel so that our customers can benefit from having much bigger sewers, which will help protect them from flooding.

“We fully understand this is a busy, well-used, vital part of the town, which is why so much planning has gone into ensuring this work causes as little disruption as possible.

“Along with Nottinghamshire County Council and local bus companies, we came up with the solution of a one-way system and free shuttle buses for everyone.

“With the one-way system in place, thanks to the county council, we can make sure Castlegate remains open and avoid a road closure that would cause a huge inconvenience, which is something we do not want.”

Mr Kenneth Tagg, operations manager at Marshalls, said the company was finalising a revised timetable for the duration of the one-way system.

'When everything starts it is always a little uncertain'

“Some of our Retford services are going to be re-routed to The Wharf and some other services will stop there,” he said.

“All services from Nottingham will stop at the bus station rather than going on to Northgate station.

“The free bus service we put on will help, so hopefully it will not be too much trouble.

“We have done what we can, but when everything starts it is always a little uncertain.”

Mr Marius Jacob, owner of Rio Cabs taxi firm, said the one-way system would help ease traffic flows and called for it to be made permanent.

“It will make a difference and will be much better. If you look at one-way systems in Mansfield and Lincoln they work effectively,” he said.

“If it happens in Newark, then the traffic on Castlegate, on Lombard Street, and at Asda would be much better.”

Mr Jacob said he would support a permanent one-way system with two lanes of traffic going in the same direction.