Teignmouth residents and visitors face a summer of roadwork misery as gas works close key town centre routes and restrict parking.

Wales and West Utilities have this week begun a three-month project to upgrade the gas pipes around the town centre and seafront.

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.

‘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 and West Utilities spokesperson.

‘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.

The gas emergency and pipeline firm 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.

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.