Chelmsford businesses are facing a serious blow to Christmas trade.

They fear that they will be badly affected by plans to carry out essential gas mains work on two of the county town's most congested junctions throughout the festive shopping season.

Mains replacement work will be carried out by gas company Transco on Van Diemens Road, between the Army and Navy roundabout and Lady Lane, with one lane closed until December 23.

A lane in Princes Road will also be closed from November 23 to December 23 so that mains can be replaced at the Miami roundabout.

Mick McDonagh, head of High Chelmer shopping centre, described the decision as a devastating blow to the commercial sector of the town.

He fears that shoppers will shun the town at what should be its most profitable trading period.

"Some of my tenants make 20 per cent of their whole year takings in the last week before Christmas. It will be a very real threat to their survival," he said.

Tony Bradley, manager of the Princes Road Tesco store, was furious about the lane closure outside his store.

"I lost money at the weekend just because they were doing one day's work on an island outside one of the schools in New London Road," he said. "For a whole month at Christmas, I am speechless. They have not given me advanced warning."

Transco says that the work is part of a national mains replacement programme driven by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure continuation of a safe and reliable gas system.

There have been leaks in the localities for the last two years, since major road works to create a new traffic light system.

Chelmsford Borough Council said: "We tried to get it postponed, but Transco says it is under obligation to the Health and Safety Executive to complete the work by the end of the calendar year."

Published Thursday November 14, 2002

Brought to you by the Essex Chronicle