Water and sewer improvement scheme to begin

NI WATER have said that every effort will be made to minimise the extent of inconvenience to local residents and businesses during the major - and long anticipated - £4m scheme.

The water and sewer improvement scheme which is to start this month will last for six months. In doing the work road and lane closures as well as traffic and pedestrians restrictions are also anticipated.

The proposed infrastructure improvements will involve the installation of sewers and/or watermains along Bow Street, Market Square, Haslem’s Lane, Market Street, Market Lane, Graham Gardens, Bridge Street and Railway Street.

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman Lisburn City Centre Management praised the long anticipated scheme.

“The £4m investment from the Department of Social Development and Lisburn City Council into the Public Realm scheme represents a massive investment in Lisburn city centre which I welcome,” he said,

“The scheme will provide a long term boost to help make our City Centre a more attractive and enjoyable place in which to shop, work and visit.

“The city centre retailers accept that there will be some disruption while the works are ongoing but Lisburn City Council will work with the contractors to ensure these are kept to an absolute minimum.

“It is important to keep our eye on the end product, an exciting, reinvigorated City Centre that we can be proud of and in which people will want to shop, visit and do business.”

Before the Public Realm works can start essential NI Water works to upgrade water and sewerage infrastructure have to take place. .

Alderman Allan Ewart continued, “In planning the Public Realm works Lisburn City Council met with service providers to ensure that any works they may have scheduled over the coming years take place in advance of any new surfaces being put in place.

“Unfortunately this will extend the period of disruption but it also means that the new surfaces won’t be opened up in the months and years following its installation.”

In a letter sent out to businesses and residents NI Water have said that a timetable of works including any disruptions will be made available in the coming weeks.

They also said that every effort will be made to minimise the extent of the inconvenience to local residents and businesses.

They also assured businesses that access to all properties adjacent to the works will be maintained at all times with appropriate measures taken to ensure safe passage of road uses and pedestrians.

They said that any disruption to water supplies will be minimal and residents will be given prior warning.