8:00am Thursday 28th January 2010
By Keighley News reporter
Silsden is bracing itself for yet more traffic chaos.
Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has announced it is to start further mains work in the town.
This week furious town mayor Councillor Alan Edwards hit out at the lack of warning given by the company — he was told last Friday by email of the work, which will start on February 8. Last year more than 16 weeks of essential replacement gas work carried out by United Utilities and Enterprise on behalf of NGN saw businesses lose thousands of pounds in takings because of road closures and traffic congestion.
Cllr Edwards said: “This is a continuation of the other works that took place last year. I am annoyed that the company did not tell us before now. Two weeks’ notice is not acceptable. I do not know anyone who was aware of it — it is a surprise to us.”
Work is due to last four weeks and will affect Kirkgate between its junctions with Elliott Street and New Road.
Northern Gas Networks’ Gwen Evans said: “We now need to replace some of the pipes that supply individual properties on a small section of Kirkgate. We informed customers by letter about the work and contacted the town council to give advance warning.
“We arranged the work around the half-term holiday to minimise disruption to road users and traders.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause.”
Two-way traffic lights will be in operation and these will be manually controlled between 7am and 7pm to help reduce disruption. Work will also take place in Howden Road and Hainsworth Road.
Twiggs Newsagent owner Martin Twigg, who lost around £15,000 during the last gas mains work, said he had not been told about the upcoming disruption.
He said: “Businesses are losing that money but still have overheads to pay. “This is bad news again for us.” He added:“I just hope they finish the work quickly and stick to schedule.”
Nadine Errington — who owns Nadine’s, a gift shop on Kirkgate — said: “We appreciate the work has to be done but could have done with more warning. This is the first I have heard about it and it will mean another month with hardly any trading by the sounds of it.”
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