Sewer collapse closes town centre street

PART of Felixstowe's main shopping street has been closed off to traffic today because of a collapsed sewer - and it could be shut for two weeks.

Emergency work is being carried out by Anglian Water contractors to repair the damage.

The company closed busy Hamilton Road without warning because it said the pipe damage beneath the street had to be dealt with immediately.

The road is closed between the junction of St Andrews Road and Gainsborough Road with fencing across the street, and also from the Palace cinema and bingo hall in the other direction.

Four bus stops are affected but notices have been put up to advise passengers and direct them to temporary stops.

A spokeswoman for AW said it was hoped the repairs - being carried out by Claret Civil Engineering - would be completed in ten to 15 days.

She said: “We are working seven days a week to try to get the repairs completed as quickly as possible.

“Diversions have been set up for motorists via High Road West, Garrison Lane and Cobbold Road.”

Peter Dawes, chairman of Felixstowe Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said the works were a complete surprise and traders had been unaware of any underground problems.

Mr Dawes, whose own business, financial advisers Edward Jones is along the affected stretch of street said: “Judging by the smell coming from the area where they are working, I would say it is definitely a sewer problem.

“It must be very necessary though or they would not be doing the work.

“We just hope they are able to get the repairs done as quickly as possible so that everything is back to normal ready for the busy run-up to Christmas for the shops and the Christmas lights switch on at the end of the month.”

It is the third Felixstowe street in the past few months to be affected by sewer problems.

Bent Hill was closed for nearly a month in late summer, and Gainsborough Road for two weeks last month after an Edwardian sewer pipe six feet below the street leaked.