PROPOSALS by South West Water to improve storm overflows and sewage pollution in Dawlish are expected to cause major disruption to the town for up to nine months. 

The plans, which involve extensive work to install large tanks, have been met with dismay by businesses and residents. 

Disruption, expected to be caused by work on the Lawn, the main green space in the town centre, is described as ‘huge’.

However, the water company’s efforts are in response to problems with sewage pollution and to improve water quality. 

SWW is understood to be planning a number of large infrastructure projects and Dawlish will be among the first. 

But the work is likely to take between six and nine months and the scale of the work will have a big impact on residents, visitors and businesses. 

A drop-in meeting will take place at the Manor House in Dawlish on October 20 between 2pm and 6pm when SWW is expected to outline its plans. 

Town councillor Rachel Hardy told a meeting of the Chamber of Trade that while there will be ‘huge’ disruption, it is an important infrastructure project to help tackle sewage pollution and ultimately improve water quality in Dawlish. 

Dawlish Town Council is pushing for the work to be delayed until September next year, after the main summer season and the events programme which is centred on the Lawn. 

A spokesman for SWW said: ‘As part of our plans to reduce the use of storm overflows across our region, we will be in Dawlish over the next few months carrying out investigations to understand more about the local area to help us to design bespoke improvement plans. 

‘We will shortly be contacting residents with more information about our work.’ 

Historian and retired Dawlish estate agent David Force said: ‘The rumour is SWW want to create a huge holding-tank or ‘run-off’ on our sacred Lawn. 

‘If this happens, the Lawn would be a no-go area for months as well as causing huge disruption to the town centre.

’It will be interesting to hear what SWW have got planned for the town. 

‘The upside would be that SWW would have to do remedial work on the Brook. 

‘There are other areas around the town earmarked as well, which would cause traffic case. The other upside should be a long term cure for flooding.’

The work will involve installing two large underground tanks, one under the Lawn and the other at Sandy Lane. 

The tanks will be up to 45m deep and there will be associated pipework along the main streets in Dawlish including High Street, Exeter Road, The Strand, Brunwick Street and Sandy Lane. 

Dawlish Town Council is in talks with SWW about compensation for businesses in the affected areas. 

Dawlish Chamber of Trade says: ‘The project needs to go ahead, the challenge is how to navigate the disruption to minimise the impact on businesses and residents.’

It wants to see ‘joined-up thinking’ on road closures and one-way systems.