Chard motorists face a further nine months of roadworks in the new year as part of a major effort to prevent flooding and upgrade the town’s gas network.

Wales & West Utilities has been working since late October to upgrade the gas pipes along the A358 Furnham Road with the second phase of this work expected to conclude shortly before Christmas.

From early January, the company will be turning its attention to the Furzehill and Glynswood area of the town, carrying out its upgrade alongside separate sewer improvements in the same area by Wessex Water.

Details of the road closures were sent to residents on the streets branching off from Furnham Road with the wider populace having the chance to find out more at a public drop-in event held at the Guildhall on Wednesday (November 20).

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Water and sewage investments

Wessex Water will be investing around £1.3m to increase the sewage capacity in the Glynswood area – an area which has been hard hit in recent years by both sewer flooding and surface water flooding.

“Historically, this area of Chard has suffered issues with sewer flooding during heavy rain, which is why we’re proposing this significant investment towards addressing the capacity of the network," said project manager Mike Horton. “We recognise that work like this is disruptive and are working closely with the council and Wales & West to ensure these projects are completed in a way that can reduce longer-term inconvenience for local customers.”

Meanwhile, Wales & West Utilities is spending £415,000 to upgrade Chard’s gas network, replacing ageing metal pipes with plastic ones which are long-lasting and will help to future-proof the network for the next few decades.

“Our team of engineers will be working as safely and as quickly as possible to complete this essential upgrade work to make sure the network is fit for the future," said programme controller Roxanne Whittaker.

By carrying out these two sets of roadworks simultaneously, the council believes it will reduce long-term disruption for residents and businesses – as well as meaning the same section of road won’t need to be resurfaced twice in as many years.

“These are two vital schemes for Chard," said councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services. “We’re really pleased to see the sewer improvement being delivered – it’s great news for residents who have suffered from sewer flooding in the immediate area."

Multi-phase upgrades

The upgrades will be carried out in four distinct phases with residents having a complete respite from roadworks between December 20, 2024 and January 5, 2025.

Phase one will run from January 6 to February 12, 2025, and will concern a short stretch of Victoria Avenue between Furnham Road and Great Western Road (leading towards the Henson Park estate).

Traffic will be diverted along the A30 East Street and Furnham Road.

Phase two will run from February 13 to May 30, and will see Furnham Road closed between Glynswood and Victoria Avenue, though access will be maintained for local residents.

Motorists will be diverted along Victoria Avenue and East Street while the sewers and gas network is upgraded in this area.

Phase three will run from May 22 to June 30, with the sewer upgrade centring around the junction of Furnham Road with Glynswood.

During this phase, motorists from the east will be diverted along Victoria Avenue, East Street and Furnham Road, while those from the west will be diverted along the A30 Fore Street, Helliers Road, Crimchard, and Glynswood.

The fourth and final phase will also begin on May 22 and will run until September 29, focussing on the eastern end of Glynswood – with the same diversions being in force as in phase three.

The upgrades will come swiftly on the heels of a decision by a council planning committee on plans for 295 homes on Thorndun Park Drive, which have been in the works since January 2019.

The plans – which also include a replacement stadium for Chard Town FC – were originally approved by South Somerset District Council in February 2020, but will have to be re-determined since the original legal agreements had not been signed before the onset of the phosphates crisis, which is holding up development across Somerset.

The committee will discuss the plans as part of an all-day session in Yeovil on Tuesday (November 26).