AN £850,000 investment to boost the quality of water supply in Timberscombe has been wrapped up - but more road closures are expected in the new year.

The eight-month project, which got under way at the start of the year, saw degrading water mains throughout the village replaced under full road closures for long periods of the day.

Wessex Water teams removed the ageing mains that had caused a series of bursts in the area in recent years, with more than 1,600 metres of new plastic pipes laid within 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.

A final phase in Orchard Way in the village was concluded sooner than expected after further investigations revealed that the existing main was still in good condition, allowing the team to wrap up their operation.

But locals have been warned further work is planned near the village from January, which could bring more disruption.

Design engineer Egidijus Mockevicius said: “We’re very pleased to have completed this work within Timberscombe, which was an essential project to replace existing mains that have suffered from a significant number of bursts in the last few years.

“We would like to thank the villagers for their co-operation and understanding while we completed such a complex scheme and working with us to try and minimise the inconvenience and disruption caused.

“We also worked closely with Timberscombe Parish Council throughout and hugely appreciate their support over the past few months.

“Some further supply work is planned on the A396 Dunster to Timberscombe road to the north of the village from January 2025 and we’ll be working closely with the parish council and village again ahead of that over the coming months.’’

Villagers were warned to expect “major disruption” ahead of the planned work and were invited to a drop-in session at the end of last year to learn more about the project, which has now been completed.

Wessex Water says it 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. Wessex Water spends around £12 million each year on a regional network spanning more than 12,000 kilometres.

A previous £600,000 investment further east in the county took place last year, with just under a mile of water main near the village of Stogursey, west of Bridgwater, replaced in the opening phase of a major overhaul south of Hinkley Point Power Station.

The utility company has also unveiled 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, as part of £3.5 billion of new investment – within its 2025-2030 Business Plan, which is being finalised with industry regulators.