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Drivers face months of delays as gas pipes replaced

Joe Skirkowski
BBC News, West of England
Getty Images Two road signs, one saying 'road ahead closed' the other 'diversion' with an arrow underneath. The first sign is red and white and the second sign is yellow and black.Getty Images
The works will start later in March

Motorists face six months of disruption as works to replace gas mains are set to begin.

Wales and West Utilities (WWU) is upgrading pipes on Bishops Hull Road and Silk Mills Road in Taunton, Somerset, from 31 March.

During the works, road closures and traffic management systems will be in place as older metal pipes are replaced by longer-lasting plastic ones, WWU said.

Residents will be able to review the plans at a drop-in event between 14:00 and 19:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Tom Parker, owner of Bishops Hull Stores, Post Office and butchers, has warned that planned road closures could have a "catastrophic" impact on his business.

He said: "I think people will think twice about coming up here. Hopefully we can garner enough support by explaining the situation and hopefully there is not a massive drop-off in trade."

A WWU spokesperson said the works were "essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations to come".

A man in a pink shirt and blue jeans stands outside a white shop with a red sign whose window is full of posters and a model of a chicken and a pig.
Tom Parker, owner of Bishops Hull Stores, Post Office and butchers, has warned that planned road closures could have a "catastrophic" impact on his business.

To minimise disruption, the project will be carried out in two phases:

Bishops Hull Road Scheme

  • Road closure on Bishops Hull Road from 31 March to the end of June
  • Work on Orchard Drive from 21 April to 4 May
  • Road closures on Bishops Hull Road and Comeytrowe Lane, with 2-way traffic lights on Stonegallows and Wellington New Road from 27 May to 13 June

Mountway Road

  • Directional closure on Silk Mills Road from 16 June to 25 July
  • Directional closure on Silk Mills Road with a road closure of the junction of Mountway Road from 28 July to 17 August
  • Directional closure on Silk Mills Road with a road closure on Waterfield Drive and a lane closure on Wellington New Road from 18 August to 7 September

Mr Parker added the works could be "potentially catastrophic" because they could reduce footfall at a time when businesses are already struggling.

"Big lorries come in here every week to deliver all our supplies and the roadworks will cause quite a big issue," he added.

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