SOUTHERN Water's sewer works at Appley in Ryde are likely to continue until February, at the earliest.

The firm says it is necessary to futureproof the system, but some businesses will react with dismay after ten months of disruption.

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Although repairs are now complete at the site of the original collapsed pipe, which caused a sinkhole in January and led to the work, extra reinforcement work will now get underway.

The utility firm says it need to bring the outdated 1980s pipework up to scratch - it takes waste from 27,000 homes in Ryde, Nettlestone, and Binstead, pumping up to 900 litres of water every second to the Sandown treatment works.

Reinforcement work on the pipeline, between shafts one and two, on North Walk, will begin on Monday, November 8.

Isle of Wight County Press: Works stretch from Ryde Canoe Lake to Appley beach footpath.Works stretch from Ryde Canoe Lake to Appley beach footpath.

An extra £1 million will be spent by Southern Water to future-proof the sewer before the temporary over-ground pipes are finally removed.

Local businesses have previously expressed concern about the ongoing work, saying it damaged trade over the summer.

Now, 18 parking bays will be removed from around Ryde Canoe Lake, to allow road widening so heavy machinery can access the site.

Southern Water said: “The fix has been complicated by boulders, both inside and outside the sewer, making it unsafe for us to work at the side of the original sinkhole.

“Therefore, we’ve dug a second shaft adjacent to the beach to allow us to complete the work in safety.”

Isle of Wight County Press: Southern Water works will continue until early 2022.Southern Water works will continue until early 2022.

The firm says it hopes to complete all works at Appley by February 28, 2022.

Isle of Wight Council’s traffic regulation orders state that Appley Lane and the Canoe Lake, North Walk, Appley Long Stay Car Park, part of the Ryde to Seaview cycle track and Ryde Footpath 90 will remain closed until at least March 4, 2022.

After work is complete, the over-pumping system will be removed, roads repaired, and the area returned to its former condition.

Isle of Wight County Press: 'Shaft 2' outside Ryde Inshore Rescue.'Shaft 2' outside Ryde Inshore Rescue.