BUSINESSES along Tilford Road in Churt and Beacon Hill will remain open as South East Water lay a new water main in the area this month.

The water company will be laying around 90 yards of new water main across Tilford Road and through private land as part of a £170,000 project.

The work is necessary to improve the capacity of the existing water network as the community grows, secure future water supplies, improve water pressure and reduce the number of bursts, according to bosses at South East Water.

Work will start on Monday, August 22, and is expected to be complete by the end of October.

During the first phase of the scheme, a temporary road closure will be in place along Tilford Road between the junctions of Churt Wynde in Beacon Hill and Green Lane, Churt for approximately three weeks.

South East Water delivery manager at Chris Love told The Herald this week: “I would like to apologise for the disruption this work will cause, but hope motorists and the local community understand the long term benefits this scheme will deliver.”