A programme of £4 million pipelaying works is continuing to make significant progress in North Down.

Despite difficult ground conditions, NI Water is progressing an essential new pipeline between Brompton Road & Stricklands Glen Wastewater Pumping Stations (WwPS).

Catherine Watkins, Senior Project Manager at NI Water said: "The new pumping main forms the final phase of a £4 million programme of work which has seen the construction of new pumping stations at Brompton Road and Stricklands Glen and is part of a wider multi-million-pound investment to improve water quality along the North Down coast and reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding.

"Our contractor BSG is progressing well with the first section of pipelaying between Brompton Road WwPS and the fork in the path towards Downshire Road. Extensive rock has been encountered in this area, however if current progress is maintained, we expect pipelaying to be completed in this section by 24 February.

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"Once this first section of pipelaying has been completed, BSG will carry out resurfacing works and will aim to have the path reopened by Saturday 04 March. The path will remain open while the second section of new pumping main - between the fork and Stricklands Glen - is undertaken. This section should be complete within two weeks."

Ms Watkins continued: "Once the new pipeline has been fully installed and tested, some further work will be required within the Stricklands Glen pumping station site to install the new pumps and bring the new pumping main into operation. Any preparatory work that can be progressed for this phase will be completed during the final stages of the pipelaying to minimise the overall programme duration.

"At this stage we expect all work to be completed at the beginning of April, after which stage the contractor can start demobilising from the area. Sowing and planting out of the areas around Brompton Road and Stricklands Glen Wastewater Pumping Stations will be undertaken thereafter in liaison with the council."