Works planned to take place in Wilmslow town centre over the Easter period have been postponed due to concerns from local businesses.
National Grid wrote to the businesses last week to inform them of their plans to replace the gas mains from outside No.18 Alderley Road to No. 27 by the old Rex Theatre.
A Cheshire East spokesperson said: "In response to concerns from local businesses, National Grid has agreed to postpone its works until after the holiday period. The works to replace the gas mains are essential and will be rescheduled."
The works, carried out by Enterprise with National Grid, are required to improve local supplies and expected to take 2-3 weeks. The project involves replacing the metal main with new plastic pipe across Alderley Road and will require temporary traffic lights to be installed.
Several local businesses were concerned about the timing, but also fed up with what seems like constant disruption in the town centre.
Jo Nicholson, Managing Director of Little Nut Tree Toys on Parsonage Green, said "Everything seems to be landing at the same time. We already have a huge number of bank holidays in April and May, not to mention the migration of families for their first major holidays for the year - so business feels a bit frail this month already.
"To have just got rid of the United Utilities works to then seemingly move straight into more road works that are potentially going to cause massive congestion and disruption to the flow of traffic is quite unnerving as a business.
"A big fear is that local shoppers end up getting put off local shopping due to the length and frequency of road works in and around Wilmslow. Couple that with the recent 'Clear Way Forward' policy and running a business in Wilmslow seems like a mountainous struggle at the moment."
Simon Carr, Manager at Hoopers, said "I was disturbed to see the initial proposal for the gas pipe replacement being over the Easter period for a couple of reasons. Mainly because the Easter period is busy for us in the store with account customer offers and because Easter is later this year the Spring /Summer merchandise will be at its peak presentation.
"Our customers and the customers of our fellow retailers and businesses in the town have experienced a lot of traffic disruption last year and in previous years. As soon as customers see roadworks, or proposed roadworks signs, they do stay away from Wilmslow and not only for the period of the works but for some time after.
"It's as if they need to tune in again to doing their shopping or other business in the town. The roadworks have almost become an annual event, in one form or another, and the communication of this latest proposed works was not in a way that would reassure visitors or people who work in Wilmslow that disruption would be kept to a minimum.
"It is important that these replacements to the pipes are carried out but in a way that we can inform people of the works, tell people how they can get in to the town and how they can get out, but most of all at a time that is convenient to the town. In the summer holidays from July to the end of August perhaps."
A spokesperson from National Grid said "The work we are doing is part of a £92m programme of work to replace 535km of metal gas mains with modern plastic pipes across the North West over the next 12 months. These plastic pipes are designed to last at least 80 years once they are in the ground.
"Our work will make sure the people of Wilmslow can carry on enjoying a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come!"
A new date for the gas works is yet to be confirmed but we will let you know as soon as we receive details.
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