Lanes wins drainage contract for Derbyshire council

Drainage engineers from Lanes Group plc are carrying out important annual maintenance work for a Derbyshire council to ensure public spaces can be used and enjoyed by businesses, residents and visitors.

They have been working through a three-week programme of surface drainage asset cleaning for Erewash Borough Council at dozens of locations in towns and villages across the local authority area.

The planned preventative maintenance (PPM) work is carried out every year across public spaces and facilities owned and managed by the borough council, including shopping precincts, leisure centres and car parks.

Critical drainage assets

Drainage engineers from the Lanes Derby depot are carrying out the work.

Lanes Area Development Manager Chris Norbury said: “We’re very pleased to have been awarded this project through competitive tender to support Erewash Borough Council’s asset maintenance programme.

“We’re using our jet vac tankers to clean a range of different drainage assets at 41 locations right across the borough, including slot drains, road drains, surface water gullies and silt traps.

“The drainage systems our teams are working on serve the busiest urban areas in the borough. They are critical for commercial activity and transport, so it’s vital they’re maintained to a high standard.”

Lanes is the largest independent wastewater and drainage maintenance specialist in the UK. The Derby depot is one of more than 40 depots and service delivery hubs the company operates.

Asset condition checks

Its teams are carrying out the work  for the borough council during May and June, with much of it being done at weekends and during night shifts to minimise disruption for residents, businesses and road users.

Towns and villages they are working in include Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, and Breaston. Key sites include the marketplaces in Ilkeston and Long Eaton, and associated public car parks.

Where asset condition issues are encountered – for example, if there appears to be a difficult blockage – the borough council can authorise Lanes to carry out a CCTV drainage survey to establish their cause.

Chris Norbury said: “As Erewash borough council has an established PPM programme, these drainage assets are well looked after, so the risk of serious blockages or of drains being damaged is reduced.

“However, as Lanes is the UK’s largest independent drainage specialist, if a problem is identified, whatever the size, complexity and urgency, we have the expertise, experience, and capacity to deal with it.”

Flood risk increase

Climate change is making the importance of drainage maintenance work like this more important than ever. Rainfall is becoming more volatile, with heavier downpours more probably throughout the year.

This can put extra strain on drainage systems, resulting in temporary pooling of water disrupting roads, pedestrian areas, and car parks. At worst, it can contribute to serious local flooding, causing damage to business premises and homes.