WORK to stop sewage flooding villagers’ homes will see the closure of a busy road and a lengthy diversion for nine weeks.

Yorkshire Water is to begin laying a new sewer along Wakefield Road in Bailiff Bridge from Monday, with work expected to be completed by September.

The project aims to reduce the risk of sewage flooding homes on West Street, which currently occurs every time there is heavy rainfall.

The Bradford firm explained that rainwater runs into the sewer, overloading the system, which results in sewage backing up the pipes and flooding people’s homes and gardens.

Although the £150,000 scheme will directly benefit the houses that currently flood, once it is complete the whole of the area will be at a reduced risk of sewer flooding.

Jonathan Lemoine, project manager for Yorkshire Water, said: “We entirely appreciate that closing even a short stretch of Wakefield Road at this location will mean a long diversion for traffic heading in and out of Bailiff Bridge, and we can only apologise.

“We have worked with Calderdale Council and taken their advice about the diversion route, which will be clearly signed.

“It’s never good to completely close roads, but on this occasion we are trying to stop locals living with the misery of sewer flooding and we had no other option if our contractors are to work quickly and safely.

“The work will take around nine weeks and we start next week so the majority takes place over the summer holidays when traffic is usually lighter.”

Contractors will be working along the busy A649 between the junctions with West Street and Victoria Road.