Drivers warned over two months of gas upgrade work

Essential gas works are due to begin in an area of Somerset, with residents and commuters asked to plan their journeys.

Wales & West Utilities is planning to upgrade the gas network around the Church Street area, Wiveliscombe, beginning later.

Roxanne Whittaker, project manager at the company, said gas engineers will be on site throughout the work to ensure completion "as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum".

The work is expected to take about two months, and short of any difficulties, should finish early-September, Ms Whittaker said.

Engineers will begin working on Mill Lane and Station Road with Somerset Council agreeing the following traffic measures:

• Now until 21 July: Road closure on Ford Road, along with three-way traffic lights on Station Road and Church Street
• 21 July - 1 September: A road closure with the use of traffic lights (when feasible) on Church Street and Rotton Row
• 11 August - 20 August: A road closure on Russells

Ms Whittaker said: "We know working in areas like this is not ideal."

However, she said: "It is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future."

She said although the gas network is underground and out of sight, it is central to the daily lives of people across the area and important to keep it safe and reliable.

Updates will be available on the company's social media.

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