Road shut off as pipe bursts

Investigations were being carried out today into a burst mains pipe which left several homes without water and a road closed for more than 12 hours.

The A483 in Newtown remained shut to traffic early today as Severn Trent worked to find the cause of the major water leak.

The road had been expected to reopen yesterday afternoon but the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency said it needed the closure to remain to resurface the road.

They hoped to have the problem fixed by lunchtime today. Properties along New Road were left without water after the pipe burst at 1.30am yesterday.

Severn Trent has already completed repairs and will now be carrying out an investigation into the cause of the burst.

A spokesman said: "We had reports of a water mains burst in New Road, Newtown, and in order to investigate and carry out the necessary repairs, had to close the road at midnight."

He said about 13 properties had been left without water but had now been switched back on.

"The road currently remains closed as although the repairs have now been completed, we need to reinstate the road surface," he said.

"We're currently working with the local highways authority to determine the best way to manage traffic in the area while the work is done.

"It may be possible to open part of the carriageway and use traffic lights to control the traffic flow along this busy stretch."

The Trunk Road Agency confirmed the closure and said diversions were in place.

But Councillor Joy Jones, mayor of Newtown, said she was concerned about the Bank Holiday weekend traffic.

She said: "The traffic through the town was really bad yesterday and I'm hoping the road can be re-opened today, otherwise its going to be chaos again.

"Traffic has been a nightmare and motorists travelling into the town have been brought to a virtual standstill."

Philip Glynn, a resident in Newtown, said: "Traffic in the town is bad enough as it is, so when problems like this happen it only adds to the existing congestion."

By Anwen Evans