Business

Business as normal for town centre shops as roadworks begin

By Laura Herbert
February 06, 2013

Shoppers are reminded that retailers and businesses will be open as normal as work to upgrade the town’s water main closes a town centre road from tomorrow.

South East Water is due to begin work in Broad Street earlier than expected due to good progress in Rose Street, and it should be complete by the end of March.

Beth Wallis, Broad Street Tavern manager, said: “All the businesses in Broad Street, such as ours, will remain open as usual while this work takes place and as the road will be closed to through traffic, it should be a calm environment for residents and visitors to shop in.”

Temporary road closures will be in place in Broad Street and Shute End, but access to businesses, staff car parks and homes will be maintained.

David Auger, of Martin and Pole Estate Agents, added: “We hope the community will support businesses in the area during this time.

Traders call for support during seven weeks of road closures

“The diversion routes take motorists past a number of car parks so accessing the town centre should not be a problem.”

The scheduled work is part of a major £2 million scheme to upgrade 7.1km of water main to ensure future supply and reduce bursts.

James Smith, South East Water delivery manager, said: “We know this stage of the work is likely to be the most disruptive so we are grateful for the support businesses are showing us and hope the community can bear with us.”

For more information about the scheme, you can visit www.southeastwater.co.uk/wokingham or go to www.getwokingham.co.uk for a full programme of the ongoing work.

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It would be extremely useful if those responsible could give us some advanced notice of how buses will be rerouted during the road closures. The diversion of the 190 down Denmark Street caused me major problems last week as it happened on the day I was due to meet an elderly lady at the Broad Street stop. She was totally confused by the diversion and finished up at the wrong end of Shute End.

If Shute End is due to close there will have to be major diversions. Can the infirm people who rely on the buses be given some advanced notice please.