MAJOR roadworks are due to start in Hebden Bridge.
Work on a new underground pumping station at the marina will begin next month. But Yorkshire Water has put off work on the biggest part of the project, the main sewage system until the new year.
Contractors ETM4, working on behalf of Yorkshire Wat
er, will begin developing the new underground pumping station at the marina off New Road in mid-November.
The biggest part of the project – to improve the sewage system in New Road, Hope Street and Albert Street – will only take place from 7pm to 11pm from January 12.
Temporary traffic lights will be needed on all three roads.
Albert Street may also need to be closed while properties are connected to the new sewer.
The project is expected to last until April 2009.
A Yorkshire Water spokesman said the aim of the work is to prevent flooding.
"We are going to be working as quickly as possible to carry out this work in order to minimise disruption and we anticipate all work being completed by April and apologise in advance for any inconvenience."
Yorkshire Water is also in talks with the Transport Agency about how many parking spaces will be closed at the Garden Street car park during the work.
Nader Fekri (Lib Dem, Calder), said: "I appreciate the work needs to be done but I don't understand why it will take up so much space and time.
"And the amount of disruption we foresee is unnecessary.
Yorkshire Water will be displaying its plans at a customer drop-in session at The Pennine Club, Albert Street, Hebden Bridge, today from 4.30pm to 7pm.
And Calderdale Council's plans to resurface Albert Street have been postponed until September 2009.
Duncan McKae, chairman of the Hebden Bridge Business Association, said: "We trust that Yorkshire Water can keep disruption to a minimum and not close any roads or take up car parking spaces until after the festive season."
Nigel Pickles, Calderdale Council's Network Manager, said the council will be working with Yorkshire Water on the project.
"The exact loss of parking spaces is still to be finalised and we are now working closely with Yorkshire Water to ensure they keep disruption to minimum," he said.
The full article contains 382 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
