Traders will be cut off by road closure
11:00am Sunday 17th February 2013 in Latest News
Peter Johnson, owner of PC’s Computers
BUSINESSES in Gorse Hill are up in arms over a road closure that they say could force them to shut down.
Signs have gone up warning drivers that Cricklade Road will be closed to motorists for three weeks from Sunday, March 3.
Traders say their customers may not be able to reach them during the planned closure, and in the difficult economic times, it could be the final straw for some.
On behalf of Swindon Council, Swindon Commercial Services Ltd intends to start maintenance and resurfacing works on the road between the Transfer Bridge roundabout to just past the junction of Edinburgh Street.
The works are proposed to be carried out in four phases across three weeks, weather permitting, between 8am and 6pm.
Business owners were surprised that the whole road will be closed to traffic and have asked the council to look at alternative arrangements that would not have such a detrimental impact.
Peter Johnson, owner of PC’s Computer Systems, said: “There has been no consultation. The first time we heard about it was a letter on the doorstep.
“I understand the work has to be done but there should have been some consultation with businesses and some way to get around closing the whole road.
“It is a very tough time for businesses and this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for some.”
Shehzad Hussein, manager of Gorse Hill Dry Cleaners, says he is concerned customers will be unable to park and visit his shop.
He said: “It is not going to be good for business, a lot of business is reliant on the car.
“I don’t know why they are closing all the road – you think they would put lights in, or open one side of the road.”
Some businesses are already preparing for the closure, including Pete Doné of Jensons who is making sure that his suppliers get their supplies to him before the planned works.
He said: “I had a chat with the guy in charge of the works and he has said they have to close the whole road because of the size of these vehicles, they can’t just do one side at a time.
“If the work was not carried out on the roads then they would turn into a state and would be unsafe to drive on.”
A Swindon Council spokesman said: “The road will be closed for resurfacing, but we will also be carrying out improvements to the kerbs and drainage.
“Advance notice signs have already been put up to warn motorists of the forthcoming closure and there will be diversion signs in place. There will be residential access where possible.
“We appreciate there will be disruption to traders and motorists, which is why we have opted to phase the work to minimise any problems.
“Although the road will be closed, the pedestrian pathways will remain open throughout both phases of the work and motorists will still be able to use Chapel Street car park, which is free, if they want to visit premises along Cricklade Road affected by the closure.”
Comments(19)
stu2010
says...
2:04pm Sun 17 Feb 13
roberto5
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2:21pm Sun 17 Feb 13
stu2010 wrote:Ill give it a 7/10 classic adver pose, are they told to do that for every pic?! ha
Classic arms crossed stance there
house on the hill
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3:53pm Sun 17 Feb 13
MrAngry
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4:39pm Sun 17 Feb 13
roberto5 wrote:I think the convincing grimace makes it a 9/10.
stu2010 wrote:Ill give it a 7/10 classic adver pose, are they told to do that for every pic?! ha
Classic arms crossed stance there
MrAngry
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4:45pm Sun 17 Feb 13
The kerbing and drainage might take longer but this probably could be done with the road open and controlled by signals.
On the other hand, it is becoming common practice to exagerate the time to complete the works, to allow for over runs or make the contractor look good if they complete early.
stu2010
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5:56pm Sun 17 Feb 13
robert36433
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6:18pm Sun 17 Feb 13
LordAshOfTheBrake
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6:54pm Sun 17 Feb 13
umpcah
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6:55pm Sun 17 Feb 13
stu2010 wrote:The manager of Majestic Wine Shop has given it TEN !
I'd give it an eight, he looks a bit disgruntled
MrAngry
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7:18pm Sun 17 Feb 13
stu2010 wrote:... or constipated. Hard to tell.
I'd give it an eight, he looks a bit disgruntled
John Smith II
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8:55pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Mushymushy
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9:13pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Davey Gravey
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9:13pm Sun 17 Feb 13
RICHARDPIKE
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9:55pm Sun 17 Feb 13
peatmoor pirate
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7:07am Mon 18 Feb 13
Bimbosforjustice
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8:04am Mon 18 Feb 13
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man
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1:44pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Moth
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3:12am Tue 19 Feb 13
First I knew about it and other drivers, including an ambulance was when you got down to the traffic lights to find the whole road closed.
Were diverted up the side alleys, thought would just have to go up the alley then turn left to get back onto Ferndale Road but they had a van deliberately blocking that road as well so had to go further on. Was a complete nightmare as very little space for anything bigger than a Mini to turn left. Most of the bigger cars, including mine had to manouevre to get round.
There were no warning signs anywhere in Pinehurst Road/St Mary's Grove and it's bad before even the Ambulance Service didn't know about it. Their driver turned round and went back up Pinehurst Road.
Can't believe there was and still is nothing in the Adver about it either.
itsamess3 says...
12:38pm Sun 17 Feb 13
Good grief--they cannot get their facts straight as they claim at first its 4 phases then at the bottom say its 2.
More bungling buffoonery threatening the livelihoods of many--no busses to service the area either.