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MOTORISTS are being warned of delays when Wessex Water returns next month to dig up London Road, Devizes.

The company needs to carry out essential maintenance to three water mains between Horton Avenue and Hambleton Avenue, and temporary traffic lights will be in operation for two weeks.

Following a request from Wiltshire County Council the work will be carried out during the school holidays, and will start on April 6.

At the same time other work will be done between the Hambleton Avenue and Windsor Drive junctions.

Wessex Water originally planned to close London Road and divert traffic through Hopton Industrial Estate and through residential roads in Marina Meadows, but has now decided against this.

The utility company spent five months in 2004 installing a new water main in London Road using temporary traffic lights . This caused queues for up to an hour at peak times.

The company has dug up London Road in various places since then to make connections to new housing developments.

A Wessex Water spokesman said the proposed work had nothing to do with the new water main that was installed in 2004, nor is it connected with new housing developments.

The spokesman said: "The works on London Road will involve abandoning an existing water main and the installation of cross connections and service transfers to ensure all properties in the surrounding area can be supplied by either of the two remaining water mains.

"This option will mean the water supply is secure and offers an alternative feed should this ever be required.

"To adhere to health and safety guidelines and to offer access to the site we will be controlling traffic with lights for two weeks. We will then leave the site to bed in for a week then return with the lights for one final weekend to finish off the scheme."

Traders however, fear that the work will cause delays.

Noel Woolrych, vice-chairman of the Kennet branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "London Road has been dug up several times over the past few years.

"The work outside Roundway Mill earlier this year caused tailbacks for quite a long way back. It will have an impact on trade. Ultimately people will avoid the town and go shopping elsewhere."

Andrew MacLachlan, chairman of Devizes Chamber of Commerce, hoped the traffic lights would be manned so the queues could be minimised.

9:57am Thursday 27th March 2008

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