Traffic chaos in Cheltenham road
Major roadworks are causing traffic 'chaos', according to residents in St Paul's, Cheltenham.
Gas piping is being installed along St Paul's Road, which has seen 30 feet of the route cordoned off.
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Cheltenham resident Dave Harber at the site
As a result, traffic is flowing down side roads including Dunalley Parade and Brunswick Street.
The work, which started six weeks ago, is part of a multi-million pound 30-year replacement programme across the South West to replace old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings with durable plastic pipes.
But residents say as a result of the work, cars are continuously carrying out three-point turns and driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Dave Harber, who lives in St Paul's Road, said: "These roadworks are causing absolute chaos. Cars are coming in all directions and going down Bewell Street the wrong way. There are three-point turns happening everywhere.
"The elderly and disabled are trying to use the footpath but can't because they are blocked by railings."
Businesses have also complained.
Wan Delight Chinese Takeaway in St Paul's has seen its sales fall dramatically.
Owner Tim Bright, 54, said: "All our customers have disappeared – it's unsafe for people to cross the road."
Nicole Morrison, 31, who previously worked for gas transporter Transco, is manager and licensee of St Paul's Tavern. She said: "It has been a nightmare."
However, not all residents see the roadworks in a negative light.
Johanne Anderson, who works as a librarian at the University of Gloucestershire, believes the work is having a positive effect.
Johanne, 31, said: "I walk down this road every day and it's so much safer."
Student Carl Crowther, who lives in St Paul's Road, said: "This has always been a dangerous road, now it's easier to cross."
A spokesman for Wales and West Utilities, which is carrying out the work, anticipated it would be complete by the start of February.
He said: "The work we are carrying out is essential to bring improved safety and security of supply to homes and businesses.
"We will stop work for two weeks over the Christmas period and only a small section of St Paul's Road from the Carlton Place junction to the Swindon Road junction will remain closed.
"We apologise for any inconvenience."
9 Comments
by me, St. Pauls
Friday, December 04 2009, 11:46PM
“Many local residents would support the Echo in highlighting the nuisance caused by these apparently never ending roadworks. As for thick and selfish motorists still trying to use the road. I think you have confused them with residents who still need to get to work etc.
People are not complaining that gas pipes are being replaced but about the manner of it. These road works could have been completed so that only one or two sections were done at a time. Can you imagine the High Street being dug up with only one half of the carriageway available for most of its length? So why is this acceptable along St. Pauls Road?
The job needs a larger labour force, and a faster finish, as well as limiting the number of holes dug and NOT closing an entire section at a time? The wire barriers also need to offer wider entrances into side roads and not be obstructed by carelessly parked plant.
The side roads are already narrowed by saturation parking as a result of so many multi-occupier properties. This is just turning a difficult situation into a nightmare.”
by sideshow bob, cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 7:20PM
“a case of NIMBY from current comments, me thinks.”
by tony, cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 5:18PM
“It would appear that much of the problem is casued, not by the work, but by thick and selfish motorists still trying to use a road which is obviously being dug up.”
by Bendigo Shafter, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 12:18PM
“I see my comment from earlier today has been removed.
There's administration of a site, then there's site administration. If you know what i mean. I only suggested that this wasn't really a story. The real story would be if these pipes weren't replaced. Also mentioned that if the Echo are running 'news' like this then perhaps they should consider their options rather than struggling to fill their pages with.....”
by Arthur, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 11:20AM
“........ and where the flip is *Bewell Street* ?”
by Matt H, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 10:51AM
“Comes to something when the proof reading of articles is done by people quoting in the article...!!! Can't even get people's names right.....
And why do we need to know the ages of people quoted in the article? Apparently Tim Bright is 54 - how is his age relevant to the article...??? Assuming the stated age of 54 is correct anyway...???”
by Johanna, cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 9:54AM
“JohannA !!!
Do the writers at the Echo have a daily competition to see how many mistakes they can get in the paper? They never fail to get something wrong. I am amazed I was mentioned at all as the reporter obviously wanted me to say something negative.
....and how old is Dave? the rest of us have been aged.”
by Matt H, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 9:32AM
“Yawn......
Totally agree with the comments already posted. The old gas main is knackered and needs to be replaced. If somebody can invent a way of doing this work in 10 minutes, they stand to make a fortune. Until then, roads & pavements have to be dug up, and this takes time, can lead to disruption, and can make a mess.
The alternative is regular (and increasing) leaks from the old main, and even the potential for explosions / fires. Then the locals would really have something to moan about.....
This work is happening. Get over it. They'll be finished soon, and those complaining will have a nice new gas main providing them with a reliable gas supply. And the programme of replacing the gas mains will move on to another street, and we'll then see another story about locals moaning about the works.....
Perhaps the alternative is for Wales & West to do a poll in streets with planned works - if the locals don't want the work done then fine, don't do it, but with a written understanding that costs from repairing the regular leaks from the old knackered main will be charged to the locals who can't manage with a few weeks of disruption.....”
by Peter, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 03 2009, 8:19AM
“Should there be an explosion caused by old and corroded gas pipes the same people who are now complaining about the inconvenience of the work to replace old pipes would be the first to complain that the old pipes should have been replaced before the explosion. Surely the inconvenience is worth it to safeguard the safety of residences nearby. Nice to see Dave Harber has found another way to get his face in the papers by the way ; people parking in disabled bays without a blue badge is obviously not a problem anymore.”