Will Southern Water take the plunge on Gurnard SuDS?

There might finally be some positive news on Gurnard’s Sustainable Drainage Scheme (SuDS) fiasco – and not a moment too soon, as Gurnard residents were left high and dry by the disruption it caused.

As previously reported, after significant road-works got under way in February, everything seemed to draw to a halt. It was finally admitted, earlier this month, that the ambitious project, designed to tackle surface water flooding and reduce sewage outfalls, had been cancelled due to ‘permitting issues’ and disagreement over long-term maintenance costs.

After continued questioning the IW Observer has now discovered that originally the work was started under a Utility Work Permit, meant for projects under Southern Water’s long-term responsibility. However, it was later discovered that a Section 278 Agreement under the Highways Act 1980 was required, typically including payment for maintenance costs of works to be taken into public ownership. This led to a serious dispute between Island Roads and Southern Water over the £2 million maintenance costs quoted for a 13-year period, which Southern Water deemed excessive.

The IW Council has now conceded that the scheme should never have started without proper agreements in place and acknowledges that the failures have caused serious local disruption. However, after a local outcry, discussions are now under way to reach a long-term maintenance agreement, with the council saying they are committed to enable the work to progress as soon as consensus is achieved.

All parties involved are now pledging to work together to avoid similar issues in the future and Southern Water has also indicated a willingness to take on maintenance responsibilities, though concerns persist about safeguarding the integrity of the highway.

The council is asking for patience from residents, as the parties involved seek to reach agreement how the scheme could be completed promptly and also improve the processes for future projects.

For now, it’s a waiting game. When it comes to SuDS, Gurnard residents have got to go with the flow!