WELSH Water will be asked to explain why contractors for the company ignored a footpath closure order and carried out work a week early.

Ceredigion County Council has confirmed it will be speaking to Welsh Water representatives after the Rheidol cycle path and foot path was affected by work on a water main by Aberystwyth Town Football Club.

The council had granted a temporary closure of the path to operate from 5 December until 9 December but, despite signs being put up to inform pedestrians and cyclists, the closure was not enforced after it emerged contractors had carried out work the week before.

A council spokesperson said: “An application for the closure of the Rheidol cycleway/footpath was received from Welsh Water. The work to locate the rising main was necessitated as part of the residential development adjacent to the football club.

“Ceredigion County Council, in the interest of public safety, granted a temporary traffic regulation order to facilitate these works and the order stipulated that the cycleway/footpath should be closed to the public for a period of five days from 5 December until 9 December.

“Unbeknown to the council, the contractor working on behalf of Welsh Water ignored the order and carried out the work a week early."

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “We are currently investigating the reasons why the work here was carried out sooner than agreed.”

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