Major gas works will hit Market Drayton shops and traders in pocket, business leader warns
Shops and traders will be hit in the pocket when major gas works are carried out in a town, a business leader has warned.
Mark Whittle, chairman of Market Drayton Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said he was "extremely worried" about the potential impact of the work due to be carried out by National Grid.
The work on Shrewsbury Road – one of the main routes into the town centre – will see low pressure mains replaced and is expected to take several months to complete. Iron gas pipes will be replaced with polyethylene pipes to connect homes and businesses in the area to the gas supply.
The work could begin in March or April but an official start date has not yet been announced. National Grid said it has a compensation package prepared for any business directly affected by the scheme.
Mr Whittle said: "I am extremely worried about the future planned major gas replacement works in the town.
"Some businesses may lose a lot of money.
"With the larger road closures later in the year – we are concerned."
The first stage of the gas replacement works will begin on the Chestnut Road junction with Shrewsbury Road where there will be temporary traffic lights.
The work will then move to the junction of Shrewsbury Road and Buntingsdale Road and then the Bentleys Road junction and the Sherwood Crescent junction.
It will be carried out at locations listed on the risk register which shows where work is needed where small leaks are detected.
It comes after it was revealed on Friday that planned gas works on Cheshire Street have been postponed after complaints.
The road will now be closed for two days, starting on March 15 instead of next week.
Market Drayton town councillor Roger Hughes said the dates have been changed so as not to affect the town's market on a Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for National Grid said the work in Cheshire Street is a new gas supply being installed into a single property.
She said: "It was due to be done this weekend after agreement with the council for the road closure.
"However, we have been asked to postpone the work temporarily. It has now been rescheduled for March 15 to 17."
