Gas work upsets town's traders

Southern Gas Networks are digging a trench along the entire western edge of the street, blocking off parking spaces normally used by shoppers, to replace old iron mains laid within 30 metres of property with flexible, non-corrosive plastic pipes. Left alone, they should last for 80 years.

But several businesses more concerned with the here-and-now claim passing trade has dropped off dramatically, and are growing increasingly frustrated at contractors’ apparent lack of activity and urgency.

Nick Wells, whose family shoe shop has traded in Sackville Road for 107 years, said: “We all know the job has got to be done, but surely they should be doing their utmost to complete it in as short a time as possible?

“This week the site has been deserted for hours at a time.”

In a recent letter to the Observer, Hayley Atkins, of The Cat’s Whiskers pet shop, alluded to “lesser spotted gas workmen” who were “rarely sighted” and said customers, too, were “an increasingly rare species”, although Sackville Road shops continue to offer a friendly welcome.

Jerry Robinson, proprietor of women’s gym Curves, currently marking its fourth year in business, said: “It beggars belief that this work is taking so long. It’s taking an age, not helped by the fact that there appears to be so little activity for long periods of time.

“The worst of it is that clients can’t find anywhere to park while the roadworks are there.

“They drive round a couple of times and then give up and go elsewhere. That’s business I can ill afford to lose.”

Robin and Janet Powell, of nearby sweet manufacturers H & H Confectionery, said the work was inconvenient and had probably cost them custom. But they hoped progress would pick up before Easter and the arrival of the holiday season, which is usually among their busiest times.

Meanwhile, Janet said: “If only they would leave occasional gaps in the barriers for pedestrians it would help. People are having to walk to either end of the site to cross the road, which is awkward at best but well nigh impossible for many elderly people.”

A spokeswoman for Scottish and Southern Energy, to which Southern Gas Networks belongs, said the multi-million project in Sackville Road began on January 24 and, including works to be carried out in nearby Wickham Avenue, is due for completion by June 24.

She said: “ We complete our planned works within timescales agreed with local authorities. We are committed to working closely with the police and the local authorities to plan our work so that it causes minimum disruption to residents, road users, businesses and traders.”