Gas main repairs spark traffic fears

SADDLEWORTH is braced for traffic chaos when essential gas mains renewal work takes place on Uppermill High Street for six months.

Villagers say that if the £1 million work combines with the impending closure of Greenfield’s Chapel Road it will have a disastrous effect.

Temporary traffic lights will be set up on busy High Street when road works begin on July 12 and are set to remain until December.

It was initially publicised that the work would start next Monday but National Grid has corrected the date and eased fears that it would impact on major events such as the Whit Friday walk and band contest. But there could still be an impact on the war weekend and the Rushcart Festival in August.

The UK’s largest utility is to renew 1.6km of gas mains in Uppermill as part of a £92m package of improvements to 535km of the North West’s gas supply network.

Engineers will be replacing old metal pipes with new plastic ones which will last for at least 80 years. Villagers say they have yet to be notified.

Drystone wall repair work in Chapel Road – which links Uppermill and Greenfield – has already caused rush-hour queues and misery for motorists. A one way system currently in place is set to last until August when the road is due to close for eight weeks.

Parish Councillor Phil Renold said: “Inevitably it will cause chaos but if it’s work that has to be done then we have to bear it. Hopefully by July they will finish the new walls in Chapel Road because if both are going on at the same time it will be a disaster.

“And as long as it’s done sensibly and they are not digging up too long a length of High Street at the same time as that’s what can cause problems.”

Uppermill postmaster Graham Sheldon said: “We should be notified definitely. It’s quite poor that we don’t know what’s going on. It will affect everyone living in the village. It will definitely cause traffic problems but when it’s essential maintenance it has to be done and we have to put up with it.”

In total, National Grid is investing £22 billion in its energy networks in the UK and US over the next five years.

Andrew McKelvey, Head of Gas Alliances, said: “National Grid’s job is to keep gas and electricity flowing around the country so that when ever we need it – it’s there.

“We will cause some short-term disruption but ultimately, the work we are doing will make sure that our gas supply continues to serve us safely, reliably and efficiently for decades to come. It will secure our energy supply for future generations.”