RESIDENTS of a busy Boscombe road face a further seven weeks of disruption before sewage works which started in July are finally concluded.

Wessex Water have excavated an eight metre deep hole in Percy Road, one of the main routes from Southbourne into the town centre, where a sewage pipe collapsed earlier this year, causing the road to subside.

Initial repairs to the road were carried out in August and it was re-opened briefly for the Bournemouth Air Festival, but has been closed since September as engineers pump concrete into the void under the pipe before it is re-laid.

The firm has apologised to local residents for the long duration of the works, which are scheduled to be completed by January 25, with a break over Christmas.

Jose Nicholson, 79, whose drive is completely blocked off by the works, said: “It has been a bit of a pain in the bum, I don’t have a car but my children can’t park here when they come to visit now, and there is a lot of noise.

“But the job has got to be done, we can’t do anything about what’s going on.”

“They seem to be very busy, they have been out there all the time. It has been interesting watching them and the workmen have been very helpful keeping us informed.

“We would like to see it finished off as soon as possible, but I can’t see it being done by the middle of January.”

Neighbours Christopher and Sandy Williams echoed her comments.

Mr Williams, 72, added: “It has been more peaceful here in some ways, since there is no traffic.

“We get fewer visitors too, and have had to postpone our big Christmas party. But it has got to be done, and done properly.

“The main problem has been cyclists whizzing along the pavement to get past, it is very dangerous.”

Wessex Water spokesman Ian Drury said sewage repairs are normally carried out by robots, but due to the extent of the damage in Percy Road this was not practical.

Martin Dover, Bournemouth Council street works manager, said work had been delayed due to a high voltage electrical cable running along the top of the pipe, which had to be moved by Southern Electric.

“Residents here have been inconvenienced for a long time, and this is one of the main routes from Southbourne into the town,” he said.

“We would like to see it re-opened as soon as possible.”