Copse Cross Street is due to be closed to traffic between October 20th and December 1st, whilst Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distributor for the area, install 1 kilometre of underground cable, as a part of a £1 million investment to boost power supplies in Ross-on-Wye.

In addition, service cables to properties in the town centre will be renewed. To enable these cables to be installed safely by WPD’s contractors Morgan Sindall, Copse Cross Street will be closed for a six-week period. Signed diversions will be in place and businesses in the area will trade as usual during the works. The alternative route for those affected by this proposal is via Alton Street onto Gloucester Road and vice versa.

Pedestrian access will be permitted to allow people to enter shops and properties on Copse Cross Street only where there is no other form of access.

The project is part of over £7 billion which is being invested by the company across its electricity network between 2015 and 2023, in which WPD aims to further improve supply reliability and customer service levels.

Cable laying work is expected to continue in the area until January 2018 and additional updates will be provided as it progresses. Once complete, the work will help to further safeguard supply reliability to around 1,000 customers.

“It ensures that we can provide a high level of service to these areas in the long term by improving the infrastructure and security of our electricity network,” said John Goode, WPD’s Team Manager for the area.

WPD’s investment is also designed to better accommodate any increased demands placed on the power network in the future for additional developments.

“While this work is being undertaken, our aim is to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum. We have been liaising with Herefordshire Council and its local councillors, as well as residents along the route who have been informed by letter,” he added.

The letter states that the closure could remain in place for up to 18 months but it is expected that the work will be completed within six weeks.