WORK to improve Kingsbridge’s sewerage system will begin next month.

South West Water’s £250,000 scheme will see the town’s sewers renovated sewer to improve the service to residents.

The work started in October for five weeks, with the second phase of work taking place from January to March, avoiding the busy festive season.

South West Water will be working in the following streets in 2017:

• Fore Street (north) - Monday, January 9 to Friday, January 13 - temporary traffic lights

• Waterloo Road (west) - Monday, January 16 to Tuesday, January 24 - road closure

• Duncombe Street - Monday, January 16 to Friday, January 27 - road closure

• Wallingford Road - Wednesday, January 25 to Friday, January 27

• Waterloo Road (east) - Wednesday, January 25 to Friday, January 27

• Church Street - Monday, February 6 to Friday, February 10 - road closure

• Church Mews - Monday, February 6 to Friday, February 10 - road closure

• Ilbert Road - Monday, February 13 to Friday, February 17 - temporary traffic lights

• Western Backway - Monday, February 20 to Friday, February 24 - footpath closure

• Fore Street (lower) - Monday, February 20 to Friday, February 24

• Plymouth Road - Monday, February 20 to Friday, February 24 - temporary traffic lights

• Bus Station - Monday, February 27 for approximately two weeks - entrance closure

• Prince of Wales Road - Monday, March 13 March TBC for approximately two weeks - road closure

Project manager Andy Young said: ‘This is a real investment in Kingsbridge’s future. Without this necessary work the sewer network will continue to deteriorate. That can lead to collapses - which cause pollution, flooding and odour.

‘Where possible we will be using innovative no-dig techniques but some excavations will be necessary. As well as upgrading over 700 metres of pipe, we will also be preventing sea water entering the network during high tides.

‘We will be working hard to minimise disruption to the public and businesses as far as possible while completing these essential improvements.’

Councillor Chris Povey, Kingsbridge town mayor, said: ‘It is inevitable that we will experience some road closures and diversions during this essential work to create new infrastructure and these may well feel frustrating.

‘However, we have worked closely with South West Water and its partners to confirm that no work would be carried out over the busy Christmas period. Kingsbridge will very definitely stay open for business.

‘I hope everyone will appreciate that a few minutes in a traffic jam listening to your favourite tunes is infinitely better than a jammed sewer system! So, please keep smiling and prove that as the great town that we are, we can take everything in our stride.’