South West Water and its H₅O partners are upgrading sewers in the town to accommodate the needs of the new Knowle Lane development. This will also help prevent internal sewer flooding at properties in Exeter Road and Crow Green. As part of this work, the size of the sewer from Langlands Road will be increased and a new 1,000-metre sewer is under construction between Bilbie Close and Duke Street Sewage Pumping Station.

A new storm storage tank in Meadow Lane will provide 1,200 cubic metres of extra storm water storage, reducing the risk of sewer flooding during heavy rainfall.

Improvements will also be made to upgrade the pumps at Duke Street Sewage Pumping Station to cope with the additional waste water from the Knowle Lane development.

Infrastructure Delivery Manager Les Metcalfe said: "This is the biggest investment in Cullompton's sewerage network since it was built and will ensure that the system is fit for purpose for many years to come.

"We'd like to thank the residents of Cullompton for their patience while we've been completing these essential improvements. We will continue to work hard to minimise disruption to the public and businesses as much as we can."

During the next phase of work, there will be traffic lights on Exeter Hill from the junction with Ways Lane to the junction with Brook Road from Monday 23 April to Friday 4 May 2012. This is instead of a road closure and diversion via Fore Street, Tiverton Road, Langlands Road, Crow Bridge, Swallow Way and Exeter Road.

Work on the sewers under Exeter Road will continue until Friday 18 May 2012. Traffic lights and parking restrictions will be in place during this time.

All businesses, schools, hospitals and care homes affected by road closures will receive a visit from a Customer Liaison Officer before work starts. All emergency services and other service providers have been informed.

Notes to editors

For more information, including a timetable of work, go to the special section on our website at www.southwestwater.co.uk/cullompton

The following roads will be closed and diversion routes will be in place:

Meadow Lane - from entrance of sports centre to junction with Dukes Street - until May 2012
Meadow Lane/Exeter Road - from junction with Exeter Road onto Exeter Road - Tuesday 8 May 2012 to Friday 18 May 2012
Appledore Close - from junction with Crow Green to number 15 - Tuesday 8 May to Wednesday 30 May 2012
Crow Green - from junction with Shortlands Avenue to number 13A - Monday 28 May 2012 to Friday 1 June 2012
Shortlands Lane - from outside Presbyterian church to junction with Crow Green - Monday 28 May 2012 to Friday 1 June 2012

These dates may change so please check our the special section of our website regularly

Published: 12 April 2012. Updated: 1 May 2012

For further information please contact:

Press Office

South West Water

web:www.southwestwater.co.uk/contactus