Maidenhead & Windsor

Work begins on Monday (February 11) to enlarge Bisham Brook culvert in Hurley High Street to help reduce the threat of flooding in the village.

The project, which follows consultation between the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough and the Environment Agency, is expected to be completed by Friday March 14.

Contractors Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Services will excavate across the High Street next to the Rising Sun public house and replace the existing 700mm pipe culvert with a larger concrete box culvert measuring 750mm by 1250mm.

For most of the five-week project traffic in the High Street will be restricted to cars, small vans with a maximum weight of 3.5tons and the local bus service – the number 249 run by Courtney Coaches – with single lane traffic flow controlled by traffic lights.

Diversions will be clearly signposted along Shepherd's Lane, which will have some traffic measures during working hours.

The High Street will need to be completely closed at the following times:

· From 9.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday February 20
· From 7.30am on Saturday February 23 to 6pm on Tuesday February 26

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough highways officers have delivered information leaflets to homes and businesses in the village and displayed road closure information and diversion signs on noticeboards and roadside verges along the High Street.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and the environment, said: "We have worked with the Environment Agency to address the problem of occasional flooding in Hurley High Street, and have realised that the existing pipe culvert is sometimes just too small to cope with a large volume of rainwater.

"We appreciate that this work will cause disruption to Hurley residents and people visiting the village during the period of the work, and would like to apologise in advance for the inconvenience.

"However this is essential work which will provide long-term benefits in helping to alleviate the threat of flooding in the High Street. We hope local people will understand and bear with us during this time as we need to constantly improve our flood precautionary work."

For further information about the project call 01628 683806.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead