Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury businesses fear for trade over gas pipes works

Major roadworks to replace gas pipes in Shrewsbury town centre could affect trade and drive people away from the area, it has been claimed.

Published

Traders in Fish Street say they rely on people walking down their road for business – but say potential customers will stay away if the street is dug up.

While National Grid says digging up and creating trenches is the last resort, it has warned it is a real possibility – and said Fish Street was the most likely to have digging work.

Busy streets such as Pride Hill and Mardol Quay and the area behind St Mary's Church will all be dug up for gas mains to be replaced.

National Grid officials have said the work to replace the pipes has been prompted by the Shrewsbury Explosion of 2010, when 12 people needed hospital treatment after a house on the corner of Bridge Street and Smithfield Road was reduced to rubble.

The work could take up to five months to complete.

Steven Cooper, 25, who owns the Quirky Coffee and Gift Shop in Fish Street, said: "I haven't been here very long and only opened on November 1. If they have to come here and dig this road then it will definitely affect trade.

"I moved here because of the beautiful location and look of the street, and this could be bad news. If there are works here then people will just avoid the area.

"I am just starting to get this off the ground and to be honest this could shoot me down."

Susan Caroline, owner of Pengwern Books, also in Fish Street, said: "Things are hard enough at the moment for small businesses.

"I hope they are going to compensate us for a loss of trade, which there will be. If it has to be done then it has to be done, but I want to know all the details of what is happening and when well in advance.

"We need proper warning so that people know that we are open even when the works are going on, and we need decent signage while the work is ongoing.

"People will walk past and see works and say 'we are not going up there' so we need to make sure they can get up."

Dave Moss, landlord at the Three Fishes pub, said: "People will always find their way to the pub, especially the locals. However tourists do like taking photographs and walking up the street and they might be put off."

Richard King, senior construction manager for the National Grid, said the work had to be done as small leaks have been detected.

Residents and businesses will be sent letters before the work is carried out at a date still to be set.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.