Thames Water has agreed to 8km of Victorian pipe replacement works across 29 streets throughout the Crouch End area, following lobbying by Crouch End Lib Dem Councillor Luke Cawley-Harrison.
The water company will carry out the works through their partners Clancy over the next two years to reduce leakages and reduce the likelihood of burst pipes.
These major works will commence from the 9th February, starting on The Broadway, with three separate teams then working simultaneously across Crouch End to carry out the programme which is set to run until January 2028.
Cllr Cawley-Harrison has repeatedly called for Thames Water to take much stronger action to resolve repeated leaks in the area, particularly on Crouch Hill, writing to the Chief Executive of Thames Water in early 2024 calling for full pipe replacement works to put an end to repeated leaks.
He held a meeting with Thames Water, Haringey Council, and the Chair of the Crouch End Traders Association in March 2024, calling for investment from Thames Water in pipe replacements, which led to Thames Water confirming that they would look at adding Crouch Hill to their future pipe replacement programme.
Thames Water have now agreed to what they say is a £13 million investment to replace pipes across large swathes of Crouch End, tackling not just the repeated leaks on Crouch Hill, but also around other hotspots Cllr Cawley-Harrison has been involved with such as the Ferme Park Road/Ridge Road area.
Cllr Cawley-Harrison acknowledged that the works will be very disruptive for local residents and visitors, as Thames Water and Clancy have confirmed that the works will require full width road closures to take place. Therefore bus services W3, W5 and W7 will be diverted for several months:
“Whilst the months with diversions will be difficult, these are long-overdue and much needed works and will hopefully lead to an end to roads like Crouch Hill and Ferme Park Road being repeatedly closed for leaks, with the associated endless cycle of diversions to our bus services.
“We are therefore incredibly pleased that our lobbying has led to such a successful outcome. This is a really significant, positive project for the long-term benefit of the area, and is just another example of what Liberal Democrat councillors achieve with the support of the local community.”
With the exception of the works on the Broadway, all works will require full width road closures whilst the pipes are being replaced.
Therefore, bus routes will be affected. Crouch Hill will be closed from the 9 February through to October, with the W7 on diversion for eight months along Crouch End Hill, the W5 also be diverted around Crouch Hill, and around the Ridge Road area and the W3 will also be diverted away from Ferme Park Road during late 2027.
Cllr Cawley-Harrison has requested that TfL buses ensure buses on diversion stop to allow passengers on and off buses at all bus stops along the diversion routes throughout the project.
