Uppark House and Garden sewage system replacement project

FAQs

• Why does this work need to happen? What are the benefits?

  The work is the final stage of a project to make essential improvements to the sewage system at Uppark. Connecting Uppark to the mains for the first time is a sustainable solution, which will avoid unnecessary disturbance within the South Downs National Park in the future. It will also bring the system in line with Environment Agency regulations.

  The pipe from Uppark will empty into the mains system at South Harting during off-peak hours only.

• When will the work start and finish?

  The work will take place in two phases, with the exact timings of Phase 2 still to be agreed.

  Phase 1, between the junction of the B2146/B2141 and South Harting, took place on 7 October–26 October 2024.

  Phase 2, between the junction of the B2146/B2141 and the entrance to Uppark, will take place during spring/summer 2025.

  Extra days will be built into the end of the work to account for any unavoidable delays. Full timings of Phase 2 will be added to this web page once agreed.

• Which roads need to be closed during the works?

  During the first phase of work – which has now been completed – the section of road between the junction of the B2146/B2141 and South Harting was closed.

  During the second phase, the section of road between the junction of the B2146/B2141 and Uppark will be closed.

  There is also a West Sussex County Council emergency road closure in place on The Street in South Harting. This closure is due to an accident involving a heavy goods vehicle and is not related to the Uppark work.

• What are the diversion routes?

  Phase 1 of the work is now complete and the road has been reopened.

  During Phase 2, when the section of road between the junction of the B2146/B2141 and the entrance to Uppark is closed, the following alternative routes will be in place:

  Vehicles south of Uppark travelling to South Harting will be diverted south along the B2141 towards Chichester then north along the B2146 back up to South Harting.

  Traffic from South Harting will be diverted along the B1241 to Chichester where vehicles travelling towards Compton can then head north on the B2146.

• Why is there a road closure on The Street in South Harting? Is this to do with the Uppark work?

  The closure on The Street – a stretch of the B2146 that runs through South Harting – is the result of a heavy goods vehicle striking a building and is not related to the Uppark work.

  The damage to the building has left it unstable, posing a danger to pedestrians and vehicles. West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has therefore closed the road while repairs are planned and carried out. Because it’s a listed building, it may take some time to get permissions to do the work and agreement on how it will be done. However, this has nothing to do with Uppark or the National Trust.

• Why can’t you use a temporary traffic lights system and keep the roads open?

  There are very specific safety requirements that our contractors have to comply with. These can't be achieved using traffic lights.

  Some of the road sections that will be closed do not have the minimum width required to accommodate a temporary traffic lights system.

  Temporary traffic lights on these narrow roads could make it unsafe or impossible for vehicles to pass one another, especially larger vehicles.

  They could put the contractors carrying out the road works in danger.

• Why can't you use smaller digging machines and keep the roads open?

  The roads that our contractors will be working on do not have the minimum width requirements to keep them open to traffic, even if they were to use mini diggers.

  Much of the work requires larger machines, as well as heavy goods vehicles to remove materials.

• What times and days of the week will the work take place?

  The contractors plan to carry out works between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. It’s possible there may also be some weekend working but this will be kept to a minimum.

  The contractors will not work through the night. Continuing roadworks during the night would not be fair to residents.

  Working using artificial light is also much less productive than during daylight hours and limits the type of work our contractors can do. It also introduces extra health and safety risks for contractors.

• Can I visit Uppark or use the car park there while the work is being carried out?

  Uppark itself has been closed since January 2024 and will reopen in summer 2025. During this time, the sewage project will take place, along with other maintenance works.

  For your own safety, please do not visit any part of the site during this time. This includes the car park which may be used for contractor vehicles.

  The nearest National Trust place with car parks and countryside walks is Harting Down. You may need to follow diversions to reach it.

• How will bus routes be affected?

  Bus and coach operators will decide how to update their services during the road closures.

  To get the latest updates, check the following service update web pages for each operator:

  Brighton & Hove service updates: https://www.buses.co.uk/service-updates

  Metrobus and Southdown service updates: https://www.metrobus.co.uk/service-updates

  Stagecoach Bus service updates: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates

  National Express service updates: https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/live-service-updates

• Will the work affect walking routes?

  The South Downs Way walking trail crosses the road closure during the second phase of the work. The trail will not be closed and walkers will continue to have access.

  The contractors will signpost and manage this section while work is taking place so that walkers can cross the road safely.

  There will be safety lighting around the area at night.

• Who is paying for the work?

  The work will be funded by the National Trust.