This post details the ongoing issue of ensuring the River Ray parkway path is repaired and maintained. Many vehicles now use this track, in particular the 15+ ton Thames Water tankers .
Swindon Travel Choices – upcoming closure of NCN route 45
19 August 2023
The National Cycle Route 45 (River Ray Parkway) will be closed for at least a year to enable Thames Water to run a new sewage pipe. Swindon Travel Choices have issued guidance on alternative routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Both will add significant distance to the journey. Diverting through Cheney Manor adds 1.7 miles to the trip (up to an hour if walking), and the other takes pedestrians and cyclists through Shaw and Peatmoor, adding at least 30 minutes to a pedestrian’s journey.
More information from Swindon Travel Choices can be found here.
Thames Water new sewage pipe presentation to SBC gives much more detail
2 August 2023
We have received a presentation given by Thames Water to Swindon Borough Council. Called ‘Haydon End rising main burst brief to Swindon BC infrastructure delivery board’, it provides much more detail on the plans.
However, it leaves one crucial and essential question: what will be the alternative route provided to pedestrians and cyclists during the open-cut excavation work along the River Ray Parkway and Western Flyer?
The full presentation can be viewed by clicking here. Note: we think there is a typo on page 9 – Work face 2 start date should read 14/08/23 and not 14/08/24.
The high level project plan provided by Thames Water reads as follows:
Work Face 1
- Construction of Tunnel Drive Shafts (5 No) – Start date 04/07/23, Completion Date 11/09/23.
- Tunnelling between shafts 1 and 5 (1205m) – Start Date 08/09/23, Completion date 20/02/24
- Pulling pipe through tunnels – (1205m) – Start Date 20/12/23, Completion Date 22/03/24
Work Face 2
- Excavation and laying of new pipework via open cut along route of old railway (1530m) – Start Date 14/08/24 (we think this should read 14/08/23), Completion Date 06/03/24.
Work Face 3
- Directional Drilling (310m) – Start Date 04/08/23, Completion Date 09/10/23.
- Excavation and laying of new pipework via open cut from end of Direction Drilling Section to Swindon STW (400m) – Start Date 04/10/23, Completion Date 21/12/23.
The overall programme of site works has now commenced and the new rising main is programmed to be on line on 19/04/24 following testing.
Thames Water to run new sewage pipe along the River Ray Parkway national cycle route raises concerns
27 July 2023
The text and map in the article below can be found from this Thames Water link.
The article below raises these primary issues:
- The timeframe for the work is 3 July until July NEXT year – what does this mean for the disruption of the River Ray Parkway national cycle route, its planned resurfacing and the re-routing of service traffic along the repaired bridge from Galton Way?
- The map is incomplete! What is the route from the national cycle track to the treatment works, and what will it mean for the Western Flyer?
Thames Water article text
We’re replacing the full-length of the Haydon End rising main which will follow a new route. This will prevent future bursts and make sure it’s fit to flow for years to come.
Haydon End sewage pumping station and rising main were built in 1995-96 to transfer sewage to the inlet works at the eastern end of Swindon sewage treatment works. Its catchment area has seen significant growth in the years since.
In the last 2 years, the main has suffered many bursts and the frequency seems to be increasing. Due to the scattered nature of the bursts, a recent study advised a full-length replacement of the main.
When we’ll be working
We’ll start our work on 3 July 2023, and plan to complete it by 8 July 2024.
Where we’ll be working
We’ll carry out our work in two sections.
The first section will be from the Haydon End sewage pumping station to the north of the railway track. It’ll be tunnelled to minimise impact to the local environment.
The second section will be an open-cut installation following the route of the old railway line that is now a footpath and cycle way (route 45). This section crosses the river Ray near Barnfield Road, where it will be drilled underneath the watercourse and existing properties to Barnfield Road for the final open cut to tie in point at the sewage treatment works.
How this may affect you
We’ll do everything we can to minimise any disruptions to you while we work on the main by:
- Agree the best way to manage traffic with local highway authority when necessary
- Letting you know in advance if we’ll be working near your home or property
Please be aware that we’ll need to close cycle way route 45 this summer for about 12 months. Diversions will be put in place.
We’ll keep you informed as work progresses. Please continue to check this page for further updates.
Thames Water to run new sewage pipe along the River Ray Parkway National Cycle route
29 March 2023 – updated 19 May 2023
Councillor Keith Williams has informed us that Thames Water will resurface the National Cycle route, but only after they have dug it up to lay a new sewage pipe along much of its length.
The work is reportedly scheduled between June and September this year. Thames Water will provide an alternative route through the nature reserves while undertaking the work.
The reason for the work is due to the repeated cracking and leakage of the existing Thames Water sewage pipe that runs from Haydon Wick to the treatment centre.
See route maps below. Why the yellow bits running through Mouldon View housing estate we wonder?
River Ray Parkway National Cycle route now considered too dangerous for cyclists
26 March 2023
With all the work being conducted by various utilities, including Thames Water, the National Cycle Route is now considered too dangerous for cyclists to use for its intended purpose.
The degree of damage caused to the track by organisations who, up until now, do not consider it their responsibility to repair has created substantial potholes and lorry tyre ruts along much of its length. Most likely for litigation mitigation reasons, a sign requiring cyclists to dismount for the length of the National Cycle Route has been erected.
Furthermore, given the state of the track, drivers of the vehicles used by the utility companies have also been warned to expect a bumpy ride.
Thames Water’s sewage pipe burst again
2 March 2023
For the second time this year and the fourth time in two years, the Thames Water’s sewage pipe near the Tawny Owl pub has burst.
More on the story can be found here on the Swindon Advertiser website.
Thames Water sewage pipe bursts for the third time in two years
11 November 2022
Yet again, Thames Water’s sewage pipe has burst, this time near the railway bridge over the River Ray Parkway. This has resulted in many vehicles, many of them huge tankers using the River Ray Parkway to help mitigate the damage the sewage is doing to the environment and repair the broken pipe.
Of course, these vehicles are inflicting more damage to the River Ray Parkway. The question is whether Thames Water’s social responsibility will convince them to repair their damage or the local Council Taxpayer will have to foot the bill. Based on previous experience, we do not expect such action from them.
River Ray Parkway damage – update
8 June 2022
Following the damage to the Parkway, which is a national cycleway, by Thames Water’s 20+ ton tankers and other utility vehicles, we met with Thames Water and SBC representatives and agreed on an action plan (see below). We are pleased to hear that SBC has decided to repair the Track during this financial year and replace the bridge over the river so that vehicles can use the Galton Way access.
SRA meet with Thames Water
9 February 2022
Members of the SRA, including Cllr Keith Williams, met with Thames Water representatives onsite on the 8th February 2022.
The Thames Water representatives stated that the track has always been as bad. We disagreed with this assertion, pointing out that the damage stops at the railway bridge, with the track on the other side up to Thamesdown Drive mainly being (there are a few areas of damage) ok.
We all agreed that the Solar Farm company, Network Rail, Electricity company, and SBC have vehicles that use the track regularly. However, Thames Water would not accept that their tankers, which typically weigh >15 tons, must be more responsible than the vehicles used by other companies for the damage caused.
We all agreed on two things:
- All owners of motorised vehicles using the track should contribute to its upkeep.
- The increased traffic along the track is not acceptable – it is a footpath and cycle route and should be protected.
Councillor Keith Williams will work with SBC on a three-point plan:
- The track needs to be repaired urgently – SBC should seek contributions from all motorised traffic users to repair it.
- SBC to negotiate an annual levy that all motorised traffic users pay for the upkeep of the track.
- SBC to cost a longer-term solution of re-creating the route along Galton Way, which means a new bridge over the river. The one-off cost of this solution may well repay itself over a reasonably short period of annual levies. It would also enable the River Ray Parkway to be gated to motorised traffic – which can only be good for pedestrians, cyclists, dogs, and wildlife.
The SRA write to Thames Water CEO & Sir Robert Buckland MP
13 January 2022
In early 2021, Thames Water suffered a problem with their sewage pipe in the vicinity of Shaw Forest Park between the Barnfield Road treatment works and North Swindon. While Thames Water undertook repairs, they used tankers to transport the sewage via the off-road River Ray Parkway greenway. The resultant damage to the Parkway caused by these tankers and ancillary vehicles is significant. However, Thames Water have told SBC that they will not make good the damage they have caused.
We have written to Sarah Bentley, Thames Water CEO, inviting her to reconsider past decisions and, as a matter of urgency, make good the damage Thames Water has caused.
Click here to download the letter in pdf format.
11 January 2022
In early 2021, Thames Water suffered a problem with their sewage pipe in the vicinity of Shaw Forest Park between the Barnfield Road treatment works and North Swindon. While Thames Water undertook repairs, they used tankers to transport the sewage via the off-road River Ray Parkway greenway. The resultant damage to the Parkway caused by these tankers and ancillary vehicles is significant. However, Thames Water have told SBC that they will not make good the damage they have caused.
The SRA will be escalating this issue in the near future.
15 December 2021
The condition of the track continues to deteriorate. These pictures were taken on 11 December 2021. It can only get much worse through the winter unless action is taken urgently by SBC enforcing Thames Water to pay for their damage.
5 October 2021
Thames Water are refusing to pay for the damage. Therefore, damage caused by a private company damaging a public right of way because of their infrastructure failures, has to be payed for by the taxpayer, e.g. all of us.
26 May 2021
Clearly an alternative route for these vehicles has either not been considered, or is not possible.
19 May 2021
As a consequence of the broken sewage pipe running from North Swindon to Thames Water’s treatment facility at Barnfield, many vehicles involved in its repair are traversing the River Ray Parkway, which runs behind Shaw Forest. This traffic has caused a lot of damage to the path, which both pedestrians and cyclists use extensively.
One puzzle for us is why the vehicles do not use the entrance from the end of Galton Way, which runs from Great Western Way just after B&Q and just before Bruce Street Bridges?
The SRA has written to Councillor Keith Williams. He has raised the issue of access and Thames Water being held responsible for the regrading of the path with Borough Council officers. We have expressed our desire for the regrading to take place before the autumn.
