Christmas trade fears for Hungerford retailers

Roadworks and bridge disruptions causing agitation for town centre retailers in run up to Christmas

PLANS are being drawn up to minimise disruption to Hungerford's Christmas trade from the installation of the new footbridge.

Local businesses, still recovering from lost trade due to the the protracted gas works, are afraid of a repeat during their busiest time of year.

Works to replace the old, cast iron gas main on the A338 at High Street, Bridge Street and Salisbury Road, started at the beginning of April and were originally scheduled to take nine weeks.

However they overran until the end of September, with some traders reporting a loss of up to 50 per cent of their takings during the period.

In March, West Berkshire planners approved plans to build a new footbridge alongside the existing road bridge, around 70 years after the project was first suggested.

After the decision was made, Hungerford district council ward member, Paul Hewer (Con), said that he was "delighted" with the decision and added: "At the end of the day, it's an accumulation of four years of work for myself and David Holtby (Con, Hungerford). It's a great day for Hungerford and it makes it all worth it.”

This week Mr Hewer acknowledged traders' fears but added: “It's true there will have to be road closures but they won't happen until the bridge is lifted into place. It will be pre-fabricated off site. It will turn up on a lorry and a crane will lift it into position.

“It is predicted that any road closures won't be until next February and then they will be from 8.30pm until the following morning. They certainly won't be causing disruption like the gas works did. The road closures will be carried out by West Berkshire Council and David Holtby (Con, Hungerford) and myself will be responsible for overseeing them.”