• £850,000 Timberscombe investment will boost quality of local provision
• Eight-month project to get under way in early 2024

Water supplies in Exmoor National Park are set for a significant boost courtesy of a £850,000 investment next year.  Degrading water mains throughout the village of Timberscombe are being replaced in a major project to enhance the system, which will get under way in January.

The eight-month west Somerset project will be completed in phases to keep disruption for villagers to a minimum as much as possible and follow a series of bursts on the main in recent years.

Wessex Water recently held a public information session in Timberscombe to brief villagers and the parish council about the project, which will continue until September. Further updates are being sent throughout the village prior to the start of the work in the new year as well as during the course of the scheme.

Work will take place on the A396, Vicarage Court, Bemberry Bank, The Glebe, Forge Cottages, Jubilee Terrace, Church Street, Brook Street, Great House Street, Willow View, and from Willow Bank to Timberscombe Quarry and Orchard Way in the village at various times.

Project manager Egidijus Mockevicius said: “This is an essential project to replace existing mains that have suffered from a significant number of bursts in the last few years.

“This has caused inconvenience and disruption to customers in the area and by installing new plastic pipes will ensure improved water quality and a more reliable source for years to come.

“We recognise that this work will cause disruption in the village and, as well as working closely with local authorities to minimise those impacts, we have also met villagers at our well-attended drop-in session to answer their questions and will be keeping them informed throughout.’’

Further supply work is being planned on the A386 Dunster to Timberscombe road to the north of the village from January 2025, with the details of that work being finalised later next year.

Wessex Water is continuing to invest in the supply network by renewing ageing water mains as well as maintaining and improving facilities that help store and move water around the region to supply its customers, with around £12 million spent each year on a regional network spanning more than 12,000 kilometres.

Last month, Wessex Water proposed its largest ever investment in water and sewerage services – more than doubling its currently five-year investment period spend to around £3.5 billion of new investment – as part of its 2025-2030 Business Plan.

The plan, now subject to regulatory approval, includes ambitious proposals in relation to the supply of water to ensure the system can cope with the growing demands from population growth and challenges of climate change.

The phases of the Timberscombe scheme are as follows and shown here:

• Monday 15 January – Monday 12 February 2024 – There will be three-way manned traffiic lights on A396 Timberscombe bypass between junctions with Vicarage Court and Brook Street. Vicarage Court will be closed to through traffic, with access maintained for residents and businesses and temporary bus stops in use.
• Monday 12 February – Monday 18 March 2024 – Two-way traffic lights will be in place on the A396 Timberscombe bypass between 12 February and 11 March. Bemberry Bank will be closed to through traffic between 12 February and 18 March. Access will be maintained for residents, businesses and the school.
• Monday 18 March – Monday 22 April 2024 – Road closure to through traffic at The Glebe and Forge Cottages, with access maintained for residents and businesses.
• Monday 22 April – Monday 27 May 2024 – Road closure to through traffic at Jubilee Terrace and Church Street, with access maintained for residents and businesses.
• Monday 27 May – Monday 24 June 2024 – Road closure to through traffic at Brook Street, with access maintained for residents and businesses.
• Monday 24 June – Monday 12 August 2024 – Road closure to through traffic at Great House Street, Willow View and from Willow Bank to Timberscombe Quarry, with access maintained.
• Monday 12 August – Monday 9 September 2024 – Road closure to through traffic at Orchard Way, with access maintained for residents and businesses.
• To Contact the customer Service Team please call 0345 600 4 600 or visit wessexwater.co.uk/contact-us

Owen Houlihan Senior Communications Adviser Wessex Water Claverton Down Bath BA2 7WW Contact number 01225 526 329 Mobile number 07825 436 019 wessexwater.co.uk