Somerset Council is working with Wessex Water and Wales and West Utilities to co-ordinate two vital infrastructure schemes in Chard during 2025.
Wessex Water is investing more than £1.3 million to help alleviate sewer flooding in the town, while Wales & West Utilities is investing £415,000 to upgrade the gas network in the area, switching from the current metal pipes to long-lasting pipes, with the work being carried out between January and approximately October 2025. This week sees the start of phase two of the work.
Construction teams have been working in Victoria Avenue since the start of January as part of the opening phase of the scheme, which will conclude on Wednesday 12 February.
From this week the work moves to Furnham Road, which will be closed to through traffic from the junction with Victoria Avenue to the junction with Glynswood for the sewer and gas pipe upgrades to continue from Thursday 13 February 2025 until Friday 30 May.
A diversion is in place via Victoria Avenue, A30 (East Street) and A358 Furnham Road. There is further information on the attached map, including details on the remaining phases of work.
There will also be temporary traffic signals on the A358. One signal head will be on the junction with Victoria Avenue and the A358 Furnham Road and the other traffic signal head will be on junction with Coker Way and the A358 Furnham Road.
The A358 Furnham Road will remain closed throughout from the junction with Victoria Avenue to Glynswood.
Wales and West require traffic signals on the A358 Furnham Road and the junction with Mount Hindrance Lane to allow for the pushing of the gas main into Victoria Road junction.
Access will be maintained for residents, but it may be delayed at times. Please speak to on-site teams with regard to any specific access requirements.
The collaborative approach ensures both schemes can take place within the road closures which will need to be in place for the safety of the public and workforce.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services said:
It is really positive to see good progress on these vital works – we understand this is challenging at times for residents and road users and we are grateful for everyone’s support.
Sharing road space and getting both important schemes done at the same time during 2025 is minimising disruption for road users and resident and we are working collaboratively and monitoring the traffic management measures to ensure any issues are dealt with quickly as possible.
Wessex Water project manager Mike Horton said:
Our investment to tackle issues with sewer flooding during heavy rain in Chard is progressing and we’ll be moving on to complete the Furnham Road phase of the project next.
We’d like to thank customers and businesses for their patience while we complete our work alongside Wales & West’s project to help minimise longer-term inconvenience for the local community.
Wales & West Utilities Programme Controller, Roxanne Whittaker added:
We’re pleased to be working collaboratively to complete this essential work as quickly and as safely as possible.
While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a vital role in the daily lives of people across Chard, and we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable.
We’re making great progress to complete our work on time and we would like to thank the local community for their patience.
If you have any questions about Wessex Water’s work, please call 0345 600 4 600 or visit wessexwater.co.uk/contact-us. If you are a business or other non-household property you will need to contact your water retailer with any enquiries. You can find their contact details on your most recent water bill.
For questions about the Wales & West Utilities work, please call 0800 912 29 99, email enquiries@wwutilities.co.uk or contact them on X (formerly Twitter) @wwutilities, or Facebook.com/wwutilities.
