Disruption fear as Shrewsbury roadworks start

Motorists will face seven days of disruption in the centre of Shrewsbury when major gas works are carried out on a busy junction in the town, it was announced today.

National Grid said the essential gas pipe replacement work was due to start on Castle Gates on Sunday and was expected to last a week. It will see underground metal mains pipes removed and replaced by new hard-wearing plastic piping.

The news comes just days after it was announced roadworks will be in place from mid August to November as part of a £1 million project to revamp Shrewsbury's 'northern gateway' by the railway station.

Traders today said they were concerned the gas works would mean long traffic jams.

During the work, traffic along Castle Gates will be reduced to one lane and approaching traffic restricted to 20mph. Meadow Place will be closed to through traffic and access to properties in Meadow Place will be via Raven Meadows.

Steve Mullock, project manager for National Grid, said: "I appreciate that roadworks can cause inconvenience but we have tried hard to keep disruption to a minimum and I ask motorists to bear with us. It will be short-term inconvenience for a long-term benefit."

Jane Taylor, company spokesman, said: "We're aware it is a busy junction so will be making every effort to complete the work in the shortest possible time."

Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said he hoped the disruption would be kept to a minimum and maintained it was business as usual for town traders.

"I am confident it will be managed as well as possible," he added.

By David Seadon