WORK has begun on the Burley-in-Wharfedale phase of an £8.5 million project to improve the water supply pipes throughout the Ilkley area.

The work is taking place in the Back Lane and Southfield Road areas, where a total of 600 metres of water pipe will be renewed. This will ensure customers receive the highest quality water for decades to come, says the company.

Residents in the area have been advised of the work by letter, and a number of drop-in sessions have already been held by the company to explain the nature of the work to residents first hand.

Further weekly sessions are planned so residents can be kept up to date on the work, with the next one taking place at the Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley, between 12.30pm and 4.30pm on Monday, November 14.

Work in Ilkley itself will not begin until after Christmas, avoiding the holiday season and, throughout the two-year scheme, over 95km of water mains will be upgraded.

The project manager for Yorkshire Water, Ian Johnson, said: "This is a very important scheme for Ilkley and the surrounding area. At every stage of the scheme we will work as quickly and efficiently as possible, and

keep any disruption to a minimum.

"Unfortunately we cannot work on water pipes without causing some disruption to local roads but we will do everything possible to reduce the impact of this work."

The Drinking Water Inspectorate, one of Yorkshire Water's regulators, has recently announced that Yorkshire water is of the highest quality. This work will ensure that the water pipes which provide water to the residents of Ilkley remain in the best possible condition.

Neither Yorkshire Water nor its contract partner, Balfour Beatty, should need access to customers' homes to carry out this work.

Mr Johnson added: "We would urge residents in the area to ask for identification before letting strangers into their homes, no matter how plausible they may seem. All our staff carry cards which can be checked by making a simple telephone call.