Guilsfield road closure needed to bring “long term benefits for our customers”

The publicised seven-week closure of the Guilsfield road as part of nearly six months of disruption is unavoidable and will bring “long term benefits for our customers”, according to Hafren Dyfrdwy this morning.

We have spoken to the water company, who said that they are replacing nearly a mile of water pipes and will introduce lane closures instead of full closures when possible.

The work is expected to fully get underway next Monday, but Powys County Council has issued a full road closure notice from October 27-December 12.

There are widespread concerns that local knowledge will push motorists through country lane rat runs instead of taking the lengthy diversion.

This morning, Kera Patch, Hafren Dyfrdwy Community Communications Officer, said: “Hafren Dyfrdwy is set to invest £690,000 to install 1.5km of new water pipes to upgrade its network, to help prevent leaks and provide the area with a reliable supply for years to come.

“Work will begin on September 8 and is due to be completed by February 2026, with our teams starting on the A490 at the junction of Windmill Lane, working along the A490 stopping at the junction of the B4392.

“We understand that works like this can be an inconvenience, but we hope this short-term disruption will bring long term benefits for our customers and we thank everyone for their patience while our work is ongoing.”

The company has also provided us with additional information for our readers: 

• To carry out this essential work safely, we’ll be using temporary traffic lights around our working area throughout the project
• Looking ahead, we’ll also need to introduce a lane closure to continue the upgrades and will make sure that we keep customers in the area fully informed
• Access to homes, businesses, and emergency vehicles is maintained at all times. There may be short periods when access is affected - such as when teams are working directly outside your property. If that happens, customers will be informed in advance
• Anyone who owns or operates a business which receives visiting customers who may have their income affected by the works can contact the Business Loss team - BusinessLoss@severntrent.co.uk for further advice.