RESIDENTS in Dawlish have been assured that flower beds and trees ‘ripped up’ to make way for work on the town’s water improvement scheme will be replaced.

South West Water’s multi-million pound scheme is moving at pace and contractors have removed large flower beds and palm trees as part of the project.

The company is currently constructing the scheme to tackle storm overflows in Dawlish and part of this involves installing a new storage tank under the Lawn to hold up to 2,200,000 litres of storm flow.

This will allow more wastewater to be stored at times of heavy rainfall, then treated, reducing the reliance on storm overflows in Dawlish.

But the work in the town centre has caused concerns for locals who have seen major disruption to most of the green space.

Established flower beds have now been removed to make way for vehicles to access the Lawn.

Some have described the town centre as a ‘building site’.

A spokesman for SWW explained: ‘We worked with Teignbridge District Council and Dawlish Town Council to agree to remove some trees and plants - we are in the process of relocating as many of them as possible.

‘Once our work is complete we will work with Teignbridge District Council to replant the area.

‘We don’t make decisions like this lightly - we take our responsibility to protect our local environment extremely seriously, however there are some circumstances that mean we have to carefully remove or relocate trees and plants to ensure we have access and that the area is safe for our teams to complete important work.’

Historian David Force says the planting will have to be replaced and SWW will be ‘held to account’.

Some residents have complained about the upheaval but others have resigned themselves to ‘no pain no gain’.

Meanwhile, a tank of the same size is also due to be built underground at Sandy Lane.

Work there has reduced parking availability and coaches transporting day trippers have been regularly stopping in the town centre, near the seafront, instead.

Many residents appear resigned to the ongoing disturbance, hoping it will be ‘worth it in the end’.

South West Water has now set up twice weekly drop-in sessions for people to ask questions about the work.

Members of the project team will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 3pm at Cool Beans on the Lawn.

Work is due to be completed by May 2026.

SWW says in Dawlish, the wastewater network is under increased pressure due to rapid growth, which means more homes need to use the sewers.

Climate change is also bringing heavy rainfall, which adds to the volume in the system.

Most of the town has a system of combined sewers, which means wastewater from toilets and sinks mixes with rainwater that runs off roofs, roads and the land. With increased rain, this results in a higher risk of storm overflows being used.

The current scheme is planned to address the issues.

Despite complaints that the town is looking ‘sad’ and a ‘complete mess’ and visitors commenting on their ‘disappointment’, there are calls to be ‘positive’.

On social media, Jacky Bird said: ‘Yes it’s a mess at the moment but think ahead and the finished product a newly laid Lawn, and flower beds we have to be positive not doom mongers.’

Tash Locke said: ‘It’s for a good cause to help against storm overflows and improve the water quality.

‘Just because it looks messy at the moment doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be done.’

And Lulu Maher said: ‘It will be all to our benefit as it is to improve water discharges into the sea. Surely we all want that as a sea side resort.’