An annual music festival will not be impacted by a project to improve the area’s sewage network, a water company has confirmed.

South West Water said Sidmouth Folk Festival would not be affected by its £12m project to build a new storm storage tank at The Ham to reduce the impact of the town’s sewage system.

The water company presented its plans to Sidmouth Town Council and said the impact for the festival, which takes place between 31 July and 7 August, would be kept to a minimum.

Councillor Hilary Nelson, the chair of Sidmouth Town Council, said she was “grateful” to hear the work would not disrupt the event.

The Ham open space will be closed for recreational use from December until the works are completed.

Nelson added councillors were “keen to ensure that disruption to local residents was kept to a minimum and that the area would be fully restored following completion of the works, and we were grateful for South West Water’s reassurances on all these points”.

She added: “Through the Sidmouth Folk Festival we’ve been championing folk music, dance, and song by the sea since 1995, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to our beautiful seaside town.

“We’re thrilled that next year’s event can continue to build on its many years of success in creating an inclusive music community that celebrates tradition in all its many forms.”

Charlie Ford, project manager at South West Water, said: “It was great to have the opportunity to meet with Sidmouth Town Council earlier this week to discuss our plans for the area and to provide reassurance that we will not cause any impact on the Sidmouth Folk Festival.”