Frank Biederman, Liberal Democrat councillor for Fremington Rural on Devon County Council, said he and colleagues and the Age Concern charity had set up a network of volunteers to help elderly and vulnerable residents.
He said: “We’re offering lifts or if people need prescriptions we’ll find volunteers or go ourselves.
“As always with our community there’s been a fantastic response by people willing to help.”
Biederman said the Roundswell bus lane in Barnstaple was being temporarily suspended to ease traffic flow but the controversial Old Torrington Road bus gate would remain closed to general traffic to protect emergency service access.
Wales and West said it was replacing more than 9km (5.5 miles) of gas pipes to upgrade “critical energy infrastructure”.
Roxanne Whittaker, manager of the programme for the utilities firm, said: “Once we’ve completed this intensive phase of work, we’ll leave behind an upgraded network that meets today’s energy needs, and is ready to transport greener gases in the future.
“By completing this work now, barring any emergency repairs, we can avoid returning to the area and causing further disruption to the local community for decades.”
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