BUSY Haslemere through route Lower Street remains partly closed for major road works, with diversions in place and on-street parking banned for shoppers in West Street.

A Surrey Highways update to town county councillor Nikki Barton on the partial closure of Lower Street, which began on August 5 and is due to be completed by September 9, reported the work to provide new drains to prevent a property being flooded were complicated by “a great deal of utility services underneath the road surface”.

Highways engineers are digging a new pipe through private land in a restricted area, between two houses and a garage parking area, through a retaining wall, along a footpath and to a chamber.

A Surrey Highways spokesperson said: “The equipment being used, the width of the road and the size of excavation required mean a road closure is necessary.

“We don’t want to close roads unless we have to and do not make the decision lightly.”