Wales and West Utilities is carrying out works to upgrade gas supply pipes near Paignton town centre from the summer of 2024.
For the works to be carried out safely, Cecil Road is due to be closed from Monday 29 July to Monday 2 September between the A3022 Torquay Road and Mill Lane.
In a second part of the project from Monday 2 September to Sunday 24 November, the contractors will be working in Torquay Road and the surrounding roads under traffic management to provide a safe work zone. See below for details of the three phases of work in Torquay Road.
The traffic management measures are necessary to keep the community, road users and workers safe.
All local businesses will be open as usual and the works team will accommodate trade deliveries where possible.
Special arrangements have been made to allow access for Paignton Fire Station in Cecil Road at all times.
Letters are being sent to local residents and businesses about the works.
If supply pipes to a property need replacing, the occupier will be contacted directly to make arrangements.
The works team has spoken to local businesses about the work and will be going door to door, keeping people updated.
Barring any engineering difficulties, Wales and West Utilities expects to be finished in the area by early 2025.
Times, dates and durations are subject to change due to engineering progress.
Road users are advised to allow extra time for their journey or plan an alternative route if possible.
We thank residents and road users for their patience and understanding during these essential works.
Who is carrying out the works and why is it being done?
Wales and West Utilities is upgrading the gas supply pipes from metal to long-lasting plastic and then reconnecting the services.
It’s part of a multi-million-pound, 30-year, gas pipe investment programme across Wales and the South West of England. Old metal gas pipes within 30 meters of buildings are being upgraded to new, long lasting plastic ones.
The contractor for the works in Paignton is K.Ottaway Pipelines Ltd.
Torbay Council has been working with Wales and West Utilities and the contractor to keep disruption to a minimum.
Bus route diversions during closure of Cecil Road
These are the bus route diversions for services affected by the closure of Cecil Road during the gas works, for five weeks between Monday 29 July and Monday 2 September 2024.
Stagecoach – Fox
- Fox (Paignton bound) - Operate normal route, then right into Well Street, left into Church Street, then Hyde Road, Normal Route.
- Fox (Foxhole bound) – Leave the bus station, Normal Route to Victoria Park, left into Higher Polsham Road, left into Southfield Road, right into Cecil Road, Normal Route.
Stagecoach – 60
- 60 (Occombe Farm bound) – Leave the bus station, normal route to Victoria Park, left into Higher Polsham Road, right into Oldway Road, normal route.
- 60 (Paignton bound) – From Southfield Road, right into Colley End Road, left into Well Street, left into Church Street, normal route.
Torbay Buses – 108/109
- 108/109 (Inbound to Paignton Centre) – Operate normal route, turn right into Well Street, left onto Church Street, normal route.
- 108/109 (Outbound) – Leave bus station, normal route, turn right onto Littlegate Road, continue to Mill Lane, normal route.
Country Bus – 125
- 125 (From Marldon) – Operate normal route, from Colley End Road, turn right into Well Street, left onto Church Street, onto Hyde Road, normal route.
- 125 (To Marldon) – Operate normal route, onto Church Street, turn into Winner Street, then onto Colley End Road, normal route.
Country Bus – 53 (Saturday)
- 53 (From Marldon Road) – Operate normal route, from Marldon Road, turn right into Well Street, left onto Church Street, onto Hyde Road, normal route.
- 53 (To Marldon Road) – Operate the normal route, onto Church Street, turn into Winner Street, then onto Colley End Road, normal route.
Closure of Cecil Road
Cecil Road is due to be closed from Monday 29 July to Monday 2 September between the A3022 Torquay Road and Mill Lane.
The closure is needed to keep road users, the local community and colleagues safe during the works.
A signed diversion will be in place for the period of the closure.
From Torquay Road, the diversion will send vehicles onto Hyde Road, Totnes Road, King's Ash Road and Marldon Road.
The diversion for the opposite direction will be along Marldon Road, King's Ash Road, Totnes Road and Torquay Road.
The closure is during the school holidays, but access will be provided as needed to Sacred Heart School.
Special arrangements will be made to ensure access at all times for Paignton fire station.
Businesses in the area will be open as usual. Access for pedestrians will be maintained by a walkway.
The contractor will work to maintain vehicle access for residents in the affected area where possible and safe to do so.
Works in Torquay Road
From 2 September, the contractors will be working along Torquay Road and the surrounding roads under traffic management.
The work will be carried out in three phases.
Phase one: Texaco Garage to Torbay School - 2 September to 23 September
- Two way rolling lights
- Parking suspensions
- Bus stop suspensions
- One-way restrictions on Kings Road and Torquay Road Rear 148, entry from Torquay Road only.
Phase two: Kings Road to Manor Road – 16 September to 14 October
- Three-way lights (Ancillary for light head on Oldway Mansion Entrance)
- Lane closure to northbound carriageway from Sainsburys to AMS Tyres, access to be maintained for AMS Tyres
- Parking suspensions
Phase three: Manor Road to Paris Road – 14 October to 25 November
- Directional closure from Manor Road to Paris Road allowing northbound traffic to Torquay only
- Road closure on Langs Road from junction of Torquay Road to 14 Langs Road. No left turn from Langs Road onto Morin Road.
- Road closure on Upper Manor Road from junction of Torquay Road to junction of Old Torquay Road
- Two way lights at junction of Manor Road and Torquay Road
- One-way restriction on Morin Road from Junction of Paris Road to Manor Road. Parking restrictions to both sides of the road from the junction of Paris Road to Manor Road.
- One way restriction on Paris Road from junction of Eugene Road to Morin Road. Parking restrictions to both sides of the road from the junction of Eugene Road to Morin Road.
How can I ask a question or get in touch with the works team?
A team from Wales and West Utilities will be available to answer questions about the upgrade work at a drop-in session at Paignton SNU Spiritualist Church and Centre, Manor Corner, Paignton, TQ3 2HL, on Tuesday 23 July, from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
You can contact the Wales and West Utilities Customer Service Team about the works on 0800 912 29 99 or by email to enquiries@wwutilities.co.uk. Or you can contact them on X, formerly Twitter @wwutilities or at Facebook.com/wwutilities.
If anyone smells gas, they should report it by calling free on 0800 111 999.