RESIDENTS in Hockley are set to suffer delays as gas and water mains work start this month.

Essex and Suffolk Water is to start a five week programme of work to renew water supply mains which will affect residents around Spa Road.

It will begin on Monday, July 23, coinciding with gas main works at the junction of Lower Road, Ashingdon Road and Greensward Lane.

A spokesman from Essex and Suffolk Water said: “The upgrade work will help to reduce interruptions to supply for our customers.

“And it will make sure we have secure and reliable supplies of water.”

A letter from the company warned residents about lane and road closures around Spa Road during the work.

Alan James, chairman of the Hockley Residents’ Association, had concerns about the works, which could see water supplies cut off for a few hours.

He said: “I cannot seem to gain much clarity on what is happening.

“It is not great.

“There will be water shortages but we have to live with that because what can we do?

“If water supplies are cut off, they must notify the people and not just turn it off to undertake the work.

“I have heard we could be seeing work for 18 months.

“If that is the case we could also have a one way system through Spa Road for all that time.”

Both the road closures and the diversion routes around Spa Road have been agreed with the council and highways authority as the best route to assist traffic.

The spokesman added: “During the work there may be times when we have to interrupt the water supplies to properties on Spa Road for a period of up to three hours.

“But we will provide at least 48 hours’ notice to residents.

“This will be via a card which will be hand delivered by a site supervisor.

“There will also be other water supply interruptions of less than 30 minutes.

“And we will also provide advance notice of these beforehand.”