Tram operator faces bill after sewage contamination

Nottingham's tram operator has been left with a large clean-up bill after flood water and sewage spilled on to part of its network of track.

Nottingham Express Transit (NET) said the track near the Wilford Lane tram stop flooded during heavy rain at the beginning of January.

NET told the Local Democracy Reporting Service water had risen up from the drains and contaminated ballast stones, which support the track.

The operator estimated it would cost between £100,000 and £200,000 to replace the ballast.

Trevor Stocker, head of operations at Nottingham Trams Ltd, said: "This is something again really that Severn Trent needs to be looking at as to how they can control that better in that area.

"We have plans that we need to replace that ballast because it is contaminated, but it is no good doing all of that work if next winter we are in this position.

"There is work needed in that area to understand what is happening there off the tram network."

He said Wilford Lane was a main arterial route on the network and had suffered flooding in the past.

Severn Trent has been contacted for comment.

Nottingham City Council said discussions between various authorities had taken place about the flooding at Wilford Lane.

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