This week’s update from Dan, Dan, the engineer man.
"Hi All,
Another weekly update for Hankerton Mains Replacement.
This week, preparation have been made to complete another 100m of work for next week. Additionally, 100m of tarmacking has been completed.
Concreting has been booked for Thursday (11/06/26) and tarmac is to be completed Friday (12/06/26)"
My apologies for the missing project progress chart this week, I’m sure you’ll all be devastated, but I’m currently sat in Brixham listening to the wind howl around the boat and wondering how to track down the rainwater drip that woke us up at 02:30 this morning….. boats !
Oops ! Seems I missed a couple ! (updated below) Many thanks Michael Bromley Gardner !
There are a number of festivals coming up at Charlton Park this year.
Lets start with the bad news for all those psytrance villagers…. I’m afraid Existance has gone…. BUT….it’s only moved to Long Newnton ! So you can still catch your annual top up from Back To Mars, Bumbling Loons, Psygringo, Yabba Dabba, and many more if you’re quick !
Naadagama (11 July) “Set within the open landscapes of Charlton Park Estate, this live concert brings together a collective of Sri Lankan artists for a unique outdoor performance in a truly scenic setting.”
Campfire (17 July) “Boot-Stompin’ Fun Music & Adventure For All” Sponsored by Jack Daniel’s I might have got this wrong….but I’m guessing its Country Music…
Beatmasters (18 July) “Malmesbury, get ready. Big beats, hands-in-the-air moments and all-day dance energy are taking over Charlton Park Estate on Saturday 18th July 2026.”
We Love It (19 July) “We Love It Festival is a joyful, family‑friendly outdoor celebration of live music, laughter and summer vibes, bringing together tribute bands, festival fun and great food for all ages.”
iZambezi (15 Aug) “iZAMBEZIFEST is a Southern African music and culture festival in the United Kingdom, bringing together communities through sound, food and storytelling.
Inspired by the Zambezi River – which connects Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique – the festival reflects a shared cultural rhythm across the region.
From live music and DJs to food, fashion and art, iZAMBEZIFEST celebrates Southern African culture in a way that feels current, social and rooted in the diaspora.”
There are a number of festivals coming up at Charlton Park this year.
Lets start with the bad news for all those psytrance villagers…. I’m afraid Existance has gone…. BUT….it’s only moved to Long Newnton ! So you can still catch your annual top up from Back To Mars, Bumbling Loons, Psygringo, Yabba Dabba, and many more if you’re quick !
Naadagama (11 July) “Set within the open landscapes of Charlton Park Estate, this live concert brings together a collective of Sri Lankan artists for a unique outdoor performance in a truly scenic setting.”
Campfire (17 July) “Boot-Stompin’ Fun Music & Adventure For All” Sponsored by Jack Daniel’s I might have got this wrong….but I’m guessing its Country Music…
Beatmasters (18 July) “Malmesbury, get ready. Big beats, hands-in-the-air moments and all-day dance energy are taking over Charlton Park Estate on Saturday 18th July 2026.”
We Love It (19 July) “We Love It Festival is a joyful, family‑friendly outdoor celebration of live music, laughter and summer vibes, bringing together tribute bands, festival fun and great food for all ages.”
Basically, the team are skipping the next stage which is drilling under the stream and digging the following trench section (Stream to Dove House).
Here’s what Dan the engineer said :
"Another 100m of work has been completed this week.
Next week Concreting is due to take place on Tuesday (02/06/26) and tarmacking is due for Friday (05/06/26).
We are starting work on a new section beyond the drilling point through to Dove House. Due to the drillers’ timeline, we will return later to complete the drilling works.
The overall programme remains accurate, and we are currently on target."
And for all those project planning geeks, here’s my plan which does still look on track to me !
The one.network website shows the project finishing on 28th August.
The Design Engineer said that the work will be in sections of roughly 100m-150m, so with the help of Google maps I’ve estimated the different sections of work and how long they’ll need to take to hit that date.
The last “section” is Wessex Water chlorinating the new pipe, testing, and finishing off. The “Drilling” is where they get the pipe under the stream – no idea how long this will take so guessed at 2 weeks.
THIS IS JUST MY GUESS THOUGH ! it’s not the actual Wessex Water plan. I thought it was the least I could do after all the work put in by Inspector Moulder !
Many thanks to the Jane Highway Patrol this week – there’s been a lot to report ! Here’s this weeks update from Dan at Wessex Water :
Tarmac surfacing works have been completed in preparation for the bank holiday.
The diversion route has been changed, and residents of Folly Fields will now enter and exit via the Charlton end of the road closure. All signage has been organised to be altered and new signs will be out on site by the end of today.
I asked him what was happening next week and got this :
Next week the gang will be excavating from Folly Fields to the pumping station. The drilling under the stream will be complete at a later date but I will inform you when that is.
Now….. they’ve actually already excavated from Follyfield towards the bridge, laid the pipe, backfilled, and resurfaced so I guess they’ll be going a little further and then preparing to drill down under the stream fairly soon.
I guess the good news is that it’s now fairly “stable”. For most of Hankerton the main access will be from the Charlton end of the road until the end of the project. My guess is that we’ll probably have access both ways outside working hours.
Progress This Week • Approximately 200 metres of 180mm water main have been successfully installed. • Trench concreting works have commenced in preparation for upcoming surfacing activities.
Planned Works for Next Week • A planned shutdown at Folly Fields junction is scheduled for 19/05/2026. • Following the shutdown, works will continue with: o Backfilling of all trenches from Folly Fields through to the Charlton end of the road closure. o Tarmac surfacing works, which are programmed for completion ahead of the bank holiday.
Traffic & Access Arrangements • From 23/05/2026, all residents in the Folly Fields area will enter and exit via the Charlton end only.
Summary • This week: 200m of 180mm main installed; trench concreting underway. • Next week: Junction shutdown (19/05/2026), followed by backfilling and tarmacking works in preparation for the bank holiday period.
Michael has clarified that the access to Follyfield will be maintained using Road Plates in a similar way to this week.
We also had a letter (Follyfield) that said the water supply may be interrupted on Tuesday from 10am – 1pm.
The Hankerton Art Group’s exhibition is now open in the John Bowen Gallery at Malmesbury Town Hall. Do go along and see a wide range of work from our local art group, pictured on the opening evening. The exhibition is on until 27th May.
Hankerton Village 