Droitwich News

Businesses could be forced to close due to gas main works

3:40pm Friday 27th January 2012

A LOSS of trade caused by gas main replacement work in the Witton area of Droitwich Spa could see a host of business forced to close.

The owner of two businesses at the junction of Worcester Road and Tagwell Road has said the problem will force him to shut if something isn’t done soon.

The work is being carried out by Gas Alliance, a partnership between National Grid and leading utility company Morgan Est, and is due to finish in March.

It has already been taking place for several weeks and is apparently preventing people from visiting the shops in that part of town.

Mr Roop Sandhu, who runs Avi’s Bakery and Witton Post Office, said: “These road works have really hit us hard and we still have no idea how long they are going to last or if we will be compensated.

“If business carries on like this I will be forced to close the bakery within a month. It will mean that I may have to make six people redundant, including my wife.

“People are being put off from visiting because they have to sit in traffic due to the temporary lights. It has really hit us hard.”

A spokesman from National Grid said: “We are replacing the old metal gas main along that road with a new plastic pipe. The work needs to be done and will make the pipe safer and save work in the future.

“We appreciate the situation and are aware that the work is now outside the shops. We have now spoken to shop owners and explained the situation.

“Even though the work will be going on until March, it should only be outside the shops for another few weeks.”

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