Seven weeks of disruption in Falmouth town centre will begin next month, as efforts are stepped up to reduce storm discharges from entering the water.

It will mean digging up a number of roads, to install telemetry ducting and two small monitoring control kiosks in Market Street, High Street and Webber Street, during February and March. 

Telemetry is a system that automatically collects, transmits and measures data from remote sources, using sensors and other devices to collect the data.

It then sends this data back to a central location - in this case to South West Water (SWW), which has vowed to reduce the impact of storm overflow and sewage discharge on Falmouth's bathing waters and waterways.

Road closures will be in place during this time, although only one road at a time and access for deliveries will be maintained, in an effort to reduce the impact on businesses as much as possible.

Town manager Richard Gates said: "These works are to give SWW advanced notice of the sewer system in key areas to help with reduction of storm discharges into the water - obviously something nobody wants to be witnessing at a coastal location.

"The trench in these roads will only be 40cm wide to include the cabling, so it may be that work is completed quicker than expected, but that will depend on how they get on."

He added that any businesses that received letters from South West Water about work taking place on January 18 should discount these, as the date is incorrect.

Work will actually be carried out in three sections, on the following dates:

Market Street, between February 8 and 17

Work will include laying a new telemetry duct and installing a small kiosk base.  This will be carried out overnight between 7pm and 7am to minimise the impact on local businesses.

High Street, between February 13 and March 3

This will involve laying new telemetry ducting and will take place during normal working hours.

Webber Street, between February 27 and March 31

New telemetry ducting will be installed and a small control kiosk base built.

Mr Gates said the Town Team had asked the company to look at ways to minimise the impact of the work wherever possible, "during such a challenging time."

He said: "Efforts have been taken to reduce the disruption, with only one road being closed at a time and access will be maintained for deliveries via diversion routes.

"Signage and marshals will be in place as required. 

"Works will be taken as quickly as possible to minimise disruption and wherever possible to reduce the timetable if feasible. 

"Customer liaison officers will undertake visits to individual traders both prior to and during the works to discuss specific needs and any issues."

Businesses in the town who have questions about the work, either beforehand or while it is taking place, have a dedicated customer liaison officer they can contact, with details available from Falmouth Town Team. Alternatively they can contact the South West Water Helpline on 0344 346 2020. 

All work will be carried out by Glanville Environmental on behalf of South West Water.  

Alongside this, in what is likely to welcome news to businesses, the electrical works planned for Arewenack Street have been put on hold.

Mr Gates added: "The SWW works are far less intrusive than the electrical works that will be required for the final phase in the future but there will still be challenges due to the roads involved.

"What we have agreed with National Grid (previously called Western Power Distribution) is that this work has been paused again due to the challenging climate to support the town.

"Obviously any emergencies will need dealing with as per usual."