THERE could be traffic chaos in Crediton High Street in the new year as work is carried out to improve the town’s sewer network.

The High Street will be closed to through traffic for four weeks starting starting on January 25.

The work is being done by South West Water.

The company is carrying out a £320,000 scheme to install new manhole covers and line or replace damaged sections of pipe.

Pedestrians will still have access to the shops, but the road will be closed from the Duke of York pub at the west end of the High Street to North Street.

This could mean shops lose footfall.

Project manager James Howourth said: “This is a real investment in Crediton’s future.

“Without this necessary work the sewer network will continue to deteriorate.

“That can lead to collapses, which cause pollution, flooding and odour.

“We will be working hard to minimise disruption to the public and businesses as far as possible while completing these essential improvements.”

Devon County Council is seeing if other utility companies have work to do in the area that can be done over the same period, in order to minimise disruption.

And they are talking to school transport operators, so that they can make alternative arrangements for the period.

For the two Sundays prior to the road closure (January 17 and January 24) South West Water will be carrying out preparatory work.

This means that there will be a two-way traffic lights system in place.

The A377 Western Road will have a two-way traffic light system in place for approximately one week from February 14.

East Street and Charlotte Street will also have two way traffic lights for a week, this time starting on January 25.

The diversion routes for all vehicles, while the road is closed, will be: n A377 to Beers Hill (A3072), n A3072 to De Bathe Cross (A3124), n A3124 to Whiddon Down (A382), n A382 (Exeter Road) to A30 (Whiddon Down), n A30 (Whiddon Down) to Ide junction (A377), n Ide Junction to Exe Bridges (A377), n Exe Bridges to Cowley Bridge (A377), n Cowley Bridge to Crediton (A377).

For more information about the scheme or South West Water, visit their website: www.

southwestwater.co.uk