THE INSTALLATION of temporary flood defences at Woldingham to protect the Kenley waterworks from flooding are set to be finished today in a joint project between local councils and the Army.
It has involved building aqua dams in a huge operation, nicknamed "The Woldingham Sausage" after the three-foot high water-filled tube stretching along the foot of the Halliloo Valley at Woldingham.
The joint emergency project by Surrey, Tandridge and Croydon councils, plus the military and the Environment Agency involved constructing four emergency dams to hold back water which will be released slowly in stages.
The plan is to prevent about 47,000 households' water supply from being cut off, should the Kenley water treatment site, on the A22 Godstone Road, be inundated with floodwater.
The action has also been taken to prevent flooding to about 450 homes in Whyteleafe, Kenley and Purley – most of them at the Purley and Kenley end of the A22.
It is now hoped that the A22 at Whyteleafe can soon re-open.
The Kenley waterworks, run by Redhill-based Sutton and East Surrey Water, supplies about 47,000 homes, including those in Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Sanderstead and South Croydon.
Around 80 soldiers and 20 Surrey County Council highways officers on Wednesday February 26 started building temporary reservoirs on farmland and horse paddocks off Woldingham Road to slow and divert the Caterham Bourne so levels do not flood either the waterworks around two miles further downstream or about 450 homes.
The emergency reservoirs at Woldingham have a total capacity of 12 cubic metres of water or almost five Olympic-sized swimming pools. They are expected to be in place until at least May to protect the waterworks and local homes. Three of the reservoirs will take water from the Caterham Bourne, while a fourth will act as a back-up if heavy rainfall causes the others to overflow, said Surrey County Council.
On Friday, February 21, Surrey County Council closed Woldingham Road between the A22 at Whyteleafe and Bug Hill in Woldingham in its role as highways authority so construction could start.
A county council spokesman said on Thursday, February 27: "Neighbouring residents and landowners [around the Halliloo Valley] have already been briefed about the reservoir scheme, which will not flood any homes or businesses and will last until a long-term Government-approved solution is found."
