Pictures and video: Gas works misery for Craven Arms traders as works cause traffic delays

Traders have suggested they may seek compensation due to the effect on business of queues building up on the A49 through Craven Arms.

Work is being carried out by National Grid Gas to replace gas pipes close to the roundabout junction with the B4368 for Clun.

Traffic was delayed yesterday for up to 20 minutes – and it is feared the problems could last for two weeks while the project close to the Craven Arms Hotel is completed.

Officials at National Grid Gas have said the work is essential, but traders have said they had minimal notice of the work and that business has been hit hard.

It comes after temporary traffic lights were set up just yards away in July for BT Openreach to carry out emergency junction box repairs, again causing disruption to traffic and affecting businesses.

Harry Delves, commercial director at Harry Tuffins supermarket at the Craven Centre, said once again customers were being "marshalled" by traffic lights at their entrance to their store, and staff had virtually no notice.

He said: "We heard nothing. They put the signs up two days before.

"They're just not thinking – it's callous, really, to think that they can do that.

"It's an absolute joke. We let it go last time, we tried to look at damages but decided there was no point.

"This time we will actually try and take it on because it's affecting our business."

David Evans, Shropshire councillor for Craven Arms, who runs Cyril Bason poultry business and hardware store in the town, said it came on top of overnight closures around Onibury on the A49 to the south for repairs to the bridge.

"There's no end to it," he said. "The traffic is just diabolical.

"The plan hasn't been thought out. I think they should have done it through the night like they are at Onibury.

"Why they couldn't have come and addressed the town council beforehand, I don't know.

"These people don't know Craven Arms – they could have asked for input from local people into how to go about it, that would have been a better plan. Another concern is that they have switched off the pelican crossing by the Craven Arms Hotel and there is nobody there to see the children across the road," he said.

A spokeswoman for National Grid said the work was essential to ensure a continued gas supply for customers, especially going into the winter months where heating would be in use, and thanked residents and businesses for their patience.

She said: "It is critical work on the gas mains, workmen are replacing old metal pipes with modern plastic ones that will last 80 years, so short term pain will lead to long term gain.

"We have had engineers out there today to try to improve access to local businesses and we are trying to work with local traders as best we can," she added.