Thousands of villagers are bracing themselves for misery on the roads as a major overhaul of water mains begins next week.

Traffic chaos is predicted for Denholme, Cullingworth, Thornton, Clayton and Queensbury as a result of the £3 million improvement scheme.

Yorkshire Water says work will begin on Monday on Smithy Hill in Halifax Road, Denholme, at the junction with Black Edge Lane and will last for about ten weeks.

The aim is to remove fur from the inside of water mains, which has been caused by natural mineral deposits, and coat them with an epoxy resin to prevent further furring.

Denholme's Town Mayor, Councillor Russell Driver, said he expected the roadworks to lead to major congestion.

"It's going to cause a lot of disruption and I believe people will be using the rat runs again," he said. "We've got to take it on the chin. We don't want to deny the residents a better quality water supply."

Coun Driver praised Yorkshire Water for taking steps to ensure residents were forewarned about the roadworks.

"They have written to every household and for a change everybody is fully aware of it," he said.

A customer forum was due to take place from 4.30pm to 7pm in the Blue Room of the Mechanics Institute in Denholme today to give villagers information about how the roadworks will affect them.

The first phase will continue from Smithy Hill towards Denholme, moving from Main Road up the hill on Keighley Road and down Manywells Brow into Cullingworth, stopping just short of the roundabout on the junction with Haworth Road and Cullingworth Road in the middle of Cullingworth.

Contractors are expected to be off Keighley Road between three and four weeks after starting that part of the scheme. No roads will be closed and traffic lights will be in operation.

The work is being carried out in partnership with highways engineers who will resurface Manywells Brow after the mains work has been competed.

Yorkshire Water says customers whose water supply is affected will get 24 hours' notice. A spokesman said: "Although the work will be inconvenient it will make a real difference to the quality of water supply in the area."

Any questions? Ring (0845) 1242424, quoting scheme reference PR214000.

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