THE overground sewerage pipes set up along Boscombe cliffs as part of emergency works have been described as an ‘eyesore’ by dogwalkers.

Wessex Water have installed the temporary pipes from Boscombe Chine Gardens along the cliffs to Fisherman’s Walk near Montague Road, while work is being carried out on the nearby Percy Road.

A small section of the road has subsided and work is being carried out to determine the cause before fixing it. Inspectors also found that groundwater and sand was getting into a short section of a large sewer in the same area, known as the Bournemouth Coastal Interceptor Sewer (CIS).

Speaking about the pipes along the cliffs, Brian Jones, 67, from Wallisdown, who walks his dog down there every morning, said: “The pipes are an eyesore, but Percy Road is a pain because they keep repairing it and then it subsides again.”

Meanwhile Todd Sothcott, 50, from Southbourne, said: “I’ve seen a few notices on fencing, but I didn’t know the pipes were going to be there until they started installing them. Initially I thought it was to do with pumping sand on the beach.”

Meanwhile Joanne Goadsby, 47, from Southbourne, said: “It does bother me, but I think it does more so for a lot of elderly people who park their cars in the lay-by and then go for a walk by the overcliff.”

Her husband, Darren Goadsby, 50, said: “There’s a lot of pipes, so if it does leak, it will be horrible, and there’s a lot of dirt and mess as you head towards the pipes by Cafe Riva.”

A Wessex Water spokesperson said that the work to install the overground pipeline is due to be completed by the end of the month.

They added: “Once the pipeline is fully installed, it will be vigorously tested before use and will be regularly inspected. Measures are also in place to detect any potential leaks.

“Articles in the Daily Echo, together with regular signage along the pipeline route, explain why the pipeline is in place.

“We have also written to residents who live nearby to where any sections of pipeline are being laid.”

Work should be completed on the Bournemouth Coastal Interceptor Sewer by February before repairs can start on the collapsed sewer in Percy Road, which is due to be closed to traffic until April 2017.