Pipeline project in full swing

Major pipeline work being carried out by United Utilities on and around the Swallowfields estate, Cairnwell Road, Chadderton.

WORK is continuing on an £80 million scheme to upgrade Oldham's sewage treatment system and improve the River Irk.

United Utilities is laying part of a new three-mile pipeline behind residential roads along the Swallowfields estate in Chadderton.

Residents are currently not able to use the green pathway linking the playing fields and Cairnwell Road due to the diggers and earth-moving equipment laying the new pipeline.

The work is part of a project, described as the biggest upgrade to the town's system since the industrial revolution, involving the decommissioning of part of the sewage works at Royton and upgrading the Oldham treatment works in Chadderton.

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The new pipeline will transfer the waste water flows between the two treatment works.

Chris Tighe, United Utilities project co-ordinator responsible for the scheme, said: "New European rules will mean we have to treat Oldham's waste water to a much higher standard, which both existing plants are too old and too small to meet at present.

"We will use the new pipeline to transfer most of the sewer flows from Royton to Chadderton and we're extending and improving the treatment process at Chadderton.

"It will mean that the water we discharge into the River Irk is even cleaner."

A number of exhibitions have already taken place to inform residents and United Utilities is now drawing up the proposals for re-landscaping parts of the pipeline route.

Chris added: "We've used a tunnelling machine for parts of the pipeline to reduce the number of mature trees that would have to be cut down.

"Naturally people are concerned about how we will restore the green spaces where we have laid the pipeline by digging a trench.

"The pipeline along the Swallowfields green pathway should be finished before Christmas and we will restore the access to the footpath straightaway.

"In terms of trees and shrubs, we should be in a position to share the landscaping plan with residents in November, with a view to completing the planting work by spring 2017. We want to make sure that residents will be happy with the way we leave the site after we finish.

"It's a major investment for Oldham and it's one of the many projects our customers' water bills are helping to fund."

The entire project will take until 2018 to complete.