MOTORISTS have been urged to be patient as a major gas scheme – which is costing close to £1 million – progresses.

Gas distribution network firm SGN started the work at Chickerell last year.

Temporary traffic lights are being used, leading to hold-ups in the area.

The work was put on hold for the Christmas break and resumed earlier this month.

Contractors are currently working on Chickerell Road near the Army camp and will be moving down the road towards Charlestown in the coming weeks for the next phase.

The project is due to be completed in April.

Chickerell councillor John Dean said: "I think they've been doing a good job considering. They've been keeping people informed and they're controlling the lights manually to help with traffic flows.

"Chickerell is expanding as a town and more homes means more gas.

"I would urge people to be patient and understand that the work has to be done. I don't think people are waiting all that long in queues really."

A SGN spokesman said: "We’re continuing to upgrade our gas network in Chickerell to ensure local homes and businesses continue to enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come.

"I&G Contractors are carrying out this work on our behalf and the team is current working in Chickerell Road’s junction with Chickerell Link Road and Fleet Lane. Temporary four-way traffic lights are in place at this junction for safety until the end of January.

"From the beginning of February, we’ll begin working in Chickerell Road from its junction with Chickerell Link Road, to its junction with Putton Lane. We’ll need to carry out this phase using two-way temporary lights and hope to complete it by the end of February.

"For our final phase, we’ll need to temporarily close Lower Way between Rashley Road and Putton Lane. A signed diversion will be in place for motorists. At the same time, we’ll need to continue our use of temporary two-way lights in Chickerell Road. All going well, we hope to complete this final phase by the end of April 2020."

The spokesman said the team will continue to manually control all temporary traffic lights used in this project seven days a weeks, 12 hours a day, to help minimise inconvenience as much as possible.

SGN is investing around £950,000 to upgrade the gas network in Chickerell. It said the project was planned in close consultation with the local authorities and began in April 2019 in Lower Way. Since then it has also completed work in Chickerell Road, East Street and at Cumberland Drive’s junction with Chickerell Road.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: "We’ve been involved with SGN as part of our normal road space application process. There has been many site meetings from pre-planning through to on-site.

"We work with them to make sure the traffic management is well-planned and doesn’t cause too much delay and problems for other parts of the network. Apparently it is going well. They’ve had positive feedback and they are on target to finish on time."