DRIVERS could be faced with diversions of up to 13 miles when the main road through a village closes this week.

Pebmarsh Road, which runs through the centre of Pebmarsh is set to close for more than ten days while contractors carry out roadworks.

The work is being undertaken by County Broadband and is due to start on Tuesday, November 24.

The road will be closed while County Broadband’s contractors install new fibre optics.

The road isn’t expected to reopen until Friday, December 4 - 11 days later.

The work is taking place at three sections along Pebmarsh Road.

The first is located at Levitts Corner while the second is at Clay Hills.

The third will be located on The Street.

Similar works were started back in August, causing anger among residents.

County Broadband’s subcontractors at the time – Telec Network – were forced to stop work and re-open the road after failing to notify villagers that the road would close.

Telec Network even issued a written apology to Pebmarsh residents for the mistake.

Residents were also angry about the diversion route of nearly 13 miles faced by drivers wishing to from one side of the village to the other.

The same official diversion route is in place this time.

The route advises drivers to head through Halstead and then across to Earls Colne before heading north again.

However, Essex Highways has said this is only the official route which is suitable for all vehicles, including HGVs.

Road users may also be able to use local short cuts they are familiar with.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “The roadworks here are for County Broadband to make local connections to premises for high-speed broadband internet services.

“The road closure will move as the crew works along the road making the various connections.

“Residents living within the closure at any particular time will be able to leave and return with the assistance of the traffic management staff on site at the time, albeit sometimes via a longer route.”