ROADS will be closed while work to upgrade gas pipes in Taunton is carried out later this month.

Wales & West Utilities is continuing a £900,000 scheme in the Monkton Heathfield and Cheddon Fitzpaine areas, with a further phase of work set to get underway on April 29 - bringing several road closures.

The company says the scheme, which started in January, is 'essential to keep the gas flowing to heat homes and power businesses in the area so that people are safe and warm for generations to come'.

The next stage of the work will be complete by July and the overall gas pipe investment programme is on schedule to finish by December.

Ahead of the work, Wales & West Utilities said it has worked with Somerset County Council in a bid to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

Road closures for the work have been staggered in three phases, which are:

• Phase One will start the week commencing April 29 and will be in place for four weeks. During this time Gotton Lane will be closed, from outside Renfrew Cottage to the junction of Cheddon Fitzpaine Road and Greenway.

• Phase Two will involve a closure along Sidbrook from its junction with Greenway to its junction with Blundells Lane. This will be in place for five weeks from May 20.

• Phase Three will start the week commencing June 24 for two weeks. This will involve a closure on Blundells Lane from its junction with Sidbrook to the junction with The Street.

Wales & West Utilities programme controller, Barry Sale, is the project manager for this gas pipe upgrade work.

He said: “While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Monkton Heathfield and Cheddon Fitzpaine. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.

“We know that working on roads like these is not ideal, but it really 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.

"We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“This work will not only keep the gas flowing safely and reliably today, it will also help make sure the gas network is fit for the future and can play its part in delivering reliable and affordable green energy.”

Anyone with questions about the work can contact the Wales & West Utilities team on freephone 0800 912 2999 or via enquiries@wwwutilities.co.uk.