Lost parking in Teignmouth due to major gas works could be eased by reopening the Upper Den Carriageway, according to Teignmouth’s newly-elected Devon County Councillor David Cox.

Last week, Wales & West Utilities began a three-month project to upgrade the gas pipes around the town centre and seafront.

The work will close key town centre routes and restrict parking.

The Esplanade and Den Promenade will be closed for nearly two weeks in June (June 9-20) and Hollands Road and Station Road will be shut for nearly three weeks from the end of June until mid-July (June 23–July 11).

Parking suspensions will be in place on several roads around Teignmouth seafront and along Station Road.

Parking restrictions and road closures will impact road users in Teignmouth as Wales and West Utilities replace gas pipes
Parking restrictions and road closures will impact road users in Teignmouth as Wales & West Utilities replace gas pipes (Jo Bowery / MDA)

‘The work is essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations to come,’ said a Wales & West Utilities spokesperson.

Traders were dismayed by the impending disruption and Chamber of Commerce chair Keith Underhill said the works would have a ‘massive impact’ on businesses in the town centre.

‘We know that working in areas like this is not ideal,’ admitted Roxanne Whittaker who is managing the gas pipe upgrade work in Teignmouth. ‘But it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area and to 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,’ she added.

To mitigate the pressure on town centre parking, David Cox said he has asked Devon County Council to keep the Upper Den Carriageway open. ‘The school holidays don’t start until the end of July so it wouldn’t impact on safety, but it would deal with the parking issues,’ he noted.

While many in the town would welcome the extra parking, a number of residents and business owners are concerned about the impact on safety. The Upper Den Carriageway runs between the main beach, promenade and skate park and the children’s play park and Den.

Teignmouth Town Council has previously called for the Upper Den Carriageway to remain open all year so the town can benefit from the additional parking. However, at its meeting in November, the Devon County Council Highways and Traffic Orders (HATOC) committee raised concerns about safety, environmental and policy issues.

Wales & West Utilities said it has worked closely with Devon County Council, to agree traffic management plans, such as rolling traffic lights, which will be in place as the works progress.

However, Teignmouth Town Council revealed it had not been informed or consulted about the gas works. ‘Rest assured, we are actively engaging with the relevant organisations, including Wales & West Utilities, to address the situation,’ a Town Council spokesperson announced.

Wales and West Utilities is spending £1.4 million every week to upgrade old, metal pipes to new plastic ones as part of a 30-year programme to ensure the gas network is fit for the future.