TRAFFIC disruption is to be kept to a minimum during a £350,000 scheme to upgrade Upton's sewerage system, Severn Trent has pledged.

Work has begun in the Hanley Road and will continue in phases throughout the winter, laying a new outfall pipe to carry treated water to the River Severn from the sewerage works.

A new pumping station is also being built to cope with heavy storms.

Severn Trent spokesman Kate Cox said: "It's an upgrade and modernisation of the existing facilities, as part of a programme to invest in our infrastructure and make sure it can continue to provide a good service for the residents of Upton.

"We've looked at the way the works perform and decided we need some extra capacity to store storm water.

"The new outfall pipe will take water that's been cleaned up and is ready to go back to the river."

In order to avoid too much disruption, the latest techniques are being used in laying the pipes, requiring a minimum amount of digging.

"We're going to be fairly visible for a while, in and around the town, but it's not going to have a major impact on traffic," said Ms Cox. "It will be mainly around the Hanley Road car park and we will do everything we can to keep traffic flowing."

Residents and businesses in the vicinity of the work have been notified by Severn Trent, which expects the scheme to be completed in January 2001.