VILLAGE POLL. How many intend to connect to the mains sewerage system?

[Apple]

I thought it might be interesting, and possibly useful for people in the village to be able to have an idea of how many intend to connect to the mains sewerage system.

From what I have heard so far it is starting to sound as if AW will be building a system to which no-one will be connecting!

I have created this poll in such a way that you can change your vote if there is a change in your circumstances.

If there appears to be one factor that is preventing people from connecting, it may be that AW can be persuaded to address it if they can see the data in this poll.

If anyone wants another option added that I have not thought of, please say so and I will create it.

Maximum of ONE vote per user, but you can change your vote after it has been cast, (imagine if you could do that at the election!!)

[nennyrainbow]

We don't seem to have been given any indication of the estimated cost. Without that. it's impossible to say.

[Apple]

It is damned annoying isn't it?

You have to find your own contractor(s) and have them quote you for the work needed to connect your existing system to the pot that AW will instal on your property - or sometimes next-door, if you have a shared pot. Obviously though, contractors are reluctant to give a binding quote even if they know where the pot is going to be placed, because until it has been installed they have no real ideas of the depth of any excavations needed.

Barhale, the contractor who is installing the system for AW, can be approached for a quote, (we requested this at the presentation at the village hall). They have been here to survey the site but to date we have not heard from them.

We have had one quote from a local, and highly reputable company, but at over £3'500 it is ludicrous, (not a rip off.. there is quite a bit of work involved, just way too much money).

Some people may not like this, but I have to say that before privatisation of the water companies this system would have been installed, and all connections made, with none of this stupidity of expecting householders to find a contractor and fund the last bit of the connection themselves.

Now you know where the pot is to be placed I can only suggest you obtain some quotes from drainage contractors, (assuming they wish to quote that is, seems a lot are not really interested).

AW is set to spent a lot of money on this system and have almost no-one connected to it. Talk about spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar!

The contact name at AW for enquires, comments and complaints is John Lambert. His details are:

Direct phone number:  01733 414460

email:  jlambert@anglianwater.co.uk

It is difficult to get through to him on the phone, so you can instead contact his manager, Ami Lill,

Direct phone number:  01733 414631

email:  alill@anglianwater.co.uk

Please note that she is only available on Tues, Weds and Thurs.

YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A QUOTE FOR THE COST OF CONNECTING UNLESS YOU APPOINT YOUR OWN CONTRACTOR TO DO THE WORK. AW WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY SEND YOU A QUOTE.

[Apple]

I have made a slight alteration to the 'yes' answer to put it in perspective. If anyone wants any other changes made to the poll please let me know.

[nennyrainbow]

How does anyone know where the pot is going to be placed? We haven't heard anything from AW about the sewerage connection for at least a year and a half. We had a  letter asking if they could do a survey which they did in due course but I have never received any further correspondence from them.

[Apple]

This does not sound right at all.

At the 'open day' AW held at the village hall there were plans showing the layout for the entire village, and the proposed location of the pot for each property. Obviously though, a lot of people could not get along to see any of this.

You should have had a letter by now, (ours was dated 18 08 11), headed

Water Industry Act 1991 Section 159: Notice of intention. Barroway Drove S101A First time sewerage scheme.

Enclosed with this letter was a diagram of your property (outlined in blue) with the position of the pot shown in orange. The purpose being, for your information and to enable you to show the contractor that you choose to approach, the intended location of the AW pot so they can quote you for the work to create your connection to it.

If you have not received this document, I strongly suggest you contact John Lambert as soon as possible, (contact details above). You may have difficulties getting hold of him by phone, but if his number goes to voicemail I would recommend you do NOT leave a message but instead email him. I also suggest you send the email to Ami Lill, as that seems to result in a faster reply (possible because she is his boss).

Good luck.

[nennyrainbow]

"Open day"? First I've heard about that too. For some reason we seem to have been missed out. Maybe I should ask my neighbours- does anyone know if the pipe is going all the way down the village? (I'm near the Nordelph end). I'll call JL on Monday too.

[Apple]

I think it terminates at Taylor's Row.... and that anything beyond that is on the Nordelph system, (don't quote me on that though).

The 'open day' / presentation, (call it what you will) was at the village hall on 09 08 11.

See the other thread on this topic:

http://barrowaydrove.org/smf/index.php/topic,506.0.html

It does sound as if AW have overlooked you doesn't it?   If you cannot get hold of JL please try the other number for Ami Lill... (it will be answered even if she is not there), don't rely on leaving a message on the voicemail at JL's number as you may well not hear any more from them if you do.

[nennyrainbow]

Thanks for your help , Apple. I asked my neighbour this morning and they have had all the relevant paperwork so it does seem as though it's just us who have been missed out. Will try to get an explanation from AW tomorrow.

[Apple]

No problem. I have to say that I am curious as to how AW could have missed you out of the process... I bet they don't miss you out of the billing process eh?

[5napp3r]

Just had our Barhale quote through, £3400 including VAT. Now this really does take the proverbial. Assuming we empty our septic tank 3 times a year, that's 17 years before we make the money back, and that doesn't even include the extra we would be spending on sewerage costs. Id guesstimate at 25 years in total before it becomes worth the investment.

Any thoughts on if this is a DIY able job. It doesnt seem that hard to dig a trench and stick some pipework in it with a certain amount of drop off.

Edit: I've just popped an email off to AW stating my concerns that the cost is prohibitively expensive and that it's likely that me and others will be changing their mind regarding connection to the system.

[Apple]

Our original quote was for about £3'500, and we too have just had the Barhale quote which is better, at £1'900+VAT+BCKLWN's cut for looking down the hole, giving a grand total of about £2'300.

You will see from previous posts that I have long been in favour of a mains drainage system and still believe that everyone should have access, but this sum of money is simply beyond us, (and probably most others in the village, especially in view of how the world is at the moment).

This is a public health issue and no-one should be prevented from benefitting, and allowing their neighbours to benefit too... after all, that stuff spreads through the soil and does not stay in the boundary of the household that created it!. It really ought to fall to the water company to pick up the cost of the system, (not just the bit under the road and the vacuum station). I suppose though, that would mean reduced dividends for their shareholders and we cannot have that can we?

To everyone who supported the principle of privatisation of the water companies I can only say that you reap what you sow. Regrettably, so too does everyone else.

I shall continue to try to obtain quotes, and if I do find anyone who comes up with a sensible price I will share their details here.

[Apple]

I forgot to say thanks to Tim for fixing a bug that was preventing people from changing their vote. If your circumstances have changed you can now cancel your original vote and cast another.

Maybe we ought to have Tim fixing the drainage systems and roads as he seems far faster and more competent than any of the buffoons that delight in emptying your bank account every month and giving you practically nothing in return, (NCC, BCKLWN & AW to name but three).

Cheers Tim.

[Tim]

The problem from my perspective is the complete rebuild of all my drains, I reckon I could do the job for myself for about £500-600 (not including the councils cut of hole spotting) but I'd have to dig up all my drains as they are designed to take the waste to the back of the property.

It would be a monumentaly disruptive for very little gain and certainly there isn't a financial benefit.  A new septic tank would only cost me £1000 to £1500 plus the hire of a JCB.  The thing is I'd get that money back eventually so I'll think I'll keep my pit for the time being.

Tim

[5napp3r]

I have just been looking through all the information that was sent through. Has anyone else noticed that if you signed up to Anglia Waters offer, and do not connect to the system within 6 months then they will seek to recover the cost for the public lateral drain?

How many of us have signed up saying we would like join the system without knowing the cost? and is there any way that they could enforce this as the deadline for sign up was before the date the quotes came in - was this just clever play from both companies perhaps?