A £6.5 million scheme to lay a new water pipe through Elvington and into the Selby coalfield is to be put before the public.

Two customer forums will be held next week to give people the chance to have their say on the major project by Yorkshire Water.

The company is set to start work next month to lay a pipe between Elvington Water Treatment Works and Riccall Pumping Station through the Selby coalfield. The scheme, which will lay a duplicate pipe, will provide greater water security and guard against the effects of mining subsidence for areas in South and West Yorkshire.

But the work, which will take a year to complete, will mean disruptions for people in the Elvington and Wheldrake areas, where roads will be dug up in order to carry out work.

In response, Yorkshire Water is holding the two customer forums to give people a chance to view the plans and programme of work before digging starts.

The first will be held at Church Cottage, Main Street, Wheldrake, on Monday, January 28. The second will take place the following day at Elvington Village Hall, Main Street.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: "We would like to invite customers to drop in at any time between 4pm and 7pm on either day to chat to us about our proposals."

Updated: 10:26 Tuesday, January 22, 2002