YORKSHIRE Water has started a £114,000 project to reduce the risk of sewer flooding to properties in Burley-in-Wharfedale.

The company is lining the sewer under Back Lane which is in poor condition. The project, between the junctions of Lawn Road and Langford Lane, is expected to take around six weeks to complete.

Before the sewer is lined, some manhole chambers on Back Lane will be refurbished to ensure safe access to the sewers. The work needs to be carried out because tree roots and cracks have been found in the sewer, which will need to be cleaned out before it can be lined.

The company said: "Lining is a simple, highly effective technique to renew and strengthen the sewer where a fabric tube liner impregnated with polyester or epoxy resin is inserted into the sewer from a manhole chamber. Once in place the liner needs to be cured against the sewer pipe. Curing methods depend on the type of liner used and can be hot water, steam or ultra violet light.

"The sewer under Back Lane will be lined from the junction with Norwood Terrace to Langford Lane and under the park land between Back Lane and Main Street. The park won’t be affected by the work."

Project Manager for Yorkshire Water, Dominic Cunney, said: "I’m sorry for any inconvenience this project may cause and I would like to assure local residents and road-users that we will complete this work as quickly as possible. It’s an extremely important project; we want to do everything we can to reduce the risk of sewer flooding."

For safety reasons, temporary traffic management will be in place during the work. Sections of Back Lane may have to be closed off at times, but Yorkshire Water says closures will be kept to a minimum and local diversions will be in place.

Normal working hours will be from 8am to 6pm each day - although workmen may have to continue into the evening during the lining stage. Pedestrian access and access to properties will be maintained but there will be times when parking on Back Lane may be restricted.