DRIVERS should expect delays as engineers prepare to begin work to clear a blocked sewer pipe in Kempsey.

David Harrison, an independent councillor, has warned motorists to expect disruption as roadworks are put in place while the pipe is repaired on the A38 from tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.

Cllr Harrison said he had been in contact with Craig Bayliss, the Severn Trent waste team manager, who revealed that the pipe was blocked rather than having collapsed as was previously thought.

He added: "He apologised for the letter going out prior to Christmas and the one night closure of the entrance to Post Office Lane to further assess the situation which revealed a blockage."

Work is due to begin at the entrance to Post Office Lane and the first section up to Ellsdon with traffic lights installed on the A38 to restrict the traffic flow to a single carriageway.

He added: "The closure and traffic lights will commence between 8pm and 9pm on Tuesday (January 10) and they hope (but cannot guarantee) that things will be back to normal on the Wednesday morning.

"There will be disruption and noise from the underground drilling for which they apologise."

Meanwhile he said delays could also be expected on the A38 between Pixham Ferry Lane and Florence Close where there are various traffic lights for utility works.

He said: "Traffic lights are due to be installed from January 9 to January 17 for work to connect the Taylor Wimpey development foul sewage to the Kempsey Main Road system. Delays are possible."

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “Our work to clear a blocked sewer pipe beneath the A38 in Kempsey will continue tomorrow night (Tuesday, January 10).

“We now believe that the pipe has not collapsed and we hope to be able to clear the blockage remotely without needing to dig down into the road.

“To do this we’ll need to close Post Office Lane at the junction with the A38 overnight and we’ll have temporary traffic lights on the A38 so that our engineers can work safely.

“We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this causes but we hope this will resolve the issues we’ve had with this sewer pipe in Kempsey.”