Uncharted and shallow utilities uncovered during the Fisherton Gateway

Various uncharted and shallow utilities have been discovered during the major improvement work being carried out at the Fisherton Gateway scheme in Salisbury.

The improvement works include widening pavements, enhancing landscaping, improving street furniture and wayfinding, and introducing continuous footpaths at junctions to reinforce pedestrian priority. This £3.2 million investment forms part of the £9 million funding from the government’s Future High Streets Fund.

The utilities have been uncovered during the removal of existing paving slabs and excavation works between Summerlock Approach heading to South Western Road and previously between Malthouse Lane and Summerlock Approach.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Utilities are underground gas, electric, telephone and water supplies. Our contractor, Milestone, is ensuring all digging is carried out safely and if utilities are discovered where they shouldn’t be, they immediately identify and contact the owner of the services for assistance. Some of the pipes found are uncharted and others are shallow, but both are causing us issues.

“Once the owner has visited the site and completed their inspection, they can confirm whether the utility service is ‘live’. If it is not ‘live’ and no longer needed, then the owner can advise Milestone it is safe to remove. If it is ‘live’ then the owner will need to liaise with Milestone to relay the pipe at the required depth during the Fisherton Gateway works. All this takes time, but the contractor has been able to carry on with other parts of the work while waiting for plans for certain services to be finalised.

“One of our key priorities is to have vibrant, well-connected communities and whilst uncharted and shallow utilities are frustrating, the scheme is still progressing, albeit at a slower pace. If we continue to encounter further utility challenges, then this could impact on the completion of the scheme which is currently scheduled for summer 2024, but we are not at that stage yet.”