Manhole waterboard rip off.

Simmo5417

Hello all, we are trying to start building work on a very modest extension to our house.Plans have been passed,loan secured but now the Waterboard are insisting we have to pay them £2000 if our builder moves a manhole cover or £3200 for their contractors do the work.Surely this is not right.It is a huge sum of money for very little work.It feels like are hands are tied and we have no option.Does anyone else have any similar stories and what were the outcomes?

Gothicfairy

Not sure what you were expecting as it is not just the manhole cover that will need to be moved, they might well have to re route the hole lot

Rovver125

How much work is it though? If a manhole needs moving that would suggest a re-route of the pipe work. If it's a public sewer the water board would usually want an approved contractor to do the work and they would probably have an inspection done following the work. How big is the sewer pipe the manhole serves? Pipes under new extensions can sometimes be upgraded to ductile iron but this is an expensive material. It sounds like access needs to be maintained here so possibly more then one pipe connected to the manhole?

Still not a pleasant cost to have added to your plans!