IMPROVEMENTS to a roundabout in Bexhill have been rescheduled for the New Year – to avoid disruption during the Christmas period.

East Sussex County Council had planned to start work on upgrading the Sackville Road roundabout in October 2016 and complete the scheme before the first week of December.

However, the council’s contractor has found additional work will be required to repair a sunken section of road and collapsed drain, adding three weeks to the construction programme.

To avoid any impact on the busy pre-Christmas period, the council has now agreed to begin the work – which is now expected to take 12 weeks – on Tuesday, January 17 2016.

Cllr Carl Maynard, East Sussex County Council lead member for transport and environment (pictured), said: “The extra work that is needed risked extending the scheme into the weeks leading up to Christmas.

“Obviously we wanted to avoid any disruption during the festive period, when the town centre is at its busiest.

“By putting the work back to January, when things are quieter, it means the additional repair work can be carried out alongside the roundabout improvements, minimising the impact on traders and residents.”

The council’s contractor has also identified a need to lay a new 94m surface water sewer under the pavement on the southern side of West Parade.

The roundabout improvements will see the central island upgraded, while three pedestrian islands around it will be made larger and  the entrance lane to the roundabout narrowed. The pavement on the southern side will also be widened.

This work is the second stage of the Marina improvement scheme, aimed at improving pedestrian links between the seafront and town centre and boosting Bexhill’s economy.

The scheme has already seen pavements widened, a zebra crossing improved and a 20mph speed limit introduced in Marina.