Southern Water's Storm Tunnel
Southern Water has almost completed its £50 million Hastings Bathing Water Scheme to remove unsatisfactory storm overflows and reduce risk of flooding to the town centre. The scale of the operation has to be seen to be believed. The main tunnel is a mile (1.6km) long. These pictures were taken 5th September 1999.
From the top of the shaft in Alexandra Park, the sledge that followed the cutting machine ("Janice") is being retrieved
Almost Surreal, the 6.5m tunnel is absolutely straight, from Alexandra Park to Warrior square
To descend to the tunnel entrance - steps
Plan of the drainage setup, the tunnel above is the long straight bit in the middle
The Shaft at Warrior Square, the tunnelling machine was lifted out here
Three of the sections of the tunnelling machine (named 'Janice' after the Project Manager's wife) await removal from Warrior Square
The cutting head from the tunnelling machine
Monday Night, 6th September 1999, one of the tunnelling machine sections on its way to West Marina,
9/9/99, the sections of tunnelling machine waiting on the former Bathing Pool site at West Marina awaiting shipment to Germany
Many thanks to David North, Project Manager of Southern Water's main Contractor, Miller for allowing access to the site.
27/28th November 1999, 1066 members of the public were able to walk the
length of the main tunnel from Warrior Square to Alexandra
Park. Notices
proclaimed which landmark was above (St.Mary Magdalen Church, Hastings Museum
and Linton Road Viaduct)
Janice North, the only lady I've ever heard of who has had a tunnelling machine named after her! - many thanks for showing us round the site.
Words and pictures by !on Castro (c) 1999-2009, no reproduction without prior consent in writing.
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