PETERSFIELDÕs town manager has warned that there could be Òhuge problemsÓ in the town if long-awaited transport improvements are not carried out on schedule.

Steve Johnston is concerned about the next stage of the road works due to take place in The Square following plans laid out in the Petersfield Area Transport Study (PATS.)

He is anxious because the first stage in St PeterÕs Road is already running late and causing problems for businesses in the town.

St PeterÕs Road was due to be closed for three weeks, but the work was more than two weeks late starting and is expected to take around another three weeks to complete.

Contractors for Hampshire County Council are widening and repaving the footway, improving street lighting and resurfacing the road in line with proposals drawn up in PATS.

Later this year there will be further work in The Square and the High Street, which will include bringing in a 20 mph speed limit in the historic core of the town centre.

But Mr Johnston has warned that the county council will have to sharpen up its act in the next phase of work.

ÒThe current roadworks are proving a great inconvenience to all the traders in the town, not just in St PeterÕs Road,Ó he told The Herald.

ÒWe hope that the county council will sort out all of these problems before work commences on the Square, which is due to start in September, or we could see huge problems for the whole town for months. The Square is scheduled for three months, but judging by St PeterÕs Road, it could take much longer.Ó

Sue Latham, owner of FoggyÕs Bar on the corner of St PeterÕs Road, has had bricks from the site thrown through her window and wooden floors covered in thick cement dust. She says she is losing trade because customers canÕt stand the noise.

She is also angry that the roadworks, which were supposed to take three weeks, are now in their fourth, with at least another week to go.

ÒOn two consecutive Fridays I have had bricks thrown through the windows, which has cost £300 to repair,Ó she told The Herald.

ÒI understood that the contractor had been told not to leave any heavy machinery which could be climbed on, or other materials which could be used as missiles.Ó

ÒThe floors are covered in cement dust and the whole place is filthy,Ó she added. ÒIt is also very noisy and I am losing trade.Ó

She said she was hoping for compensation for the windows as well as a professional clean-up of the wooden floors in the bar.

ÒI am dreading the weekend because there is still loads of ammunition left in the road and I donÕt understand why they are just leaving it there. The roadworks seem to be going on and on.Ó

A county council spokesman said work started two weeks late because additional safety measures were necessary for pedestrians.

Originally the road was to be kept open, but it was felt that motorists might be tempted to mount the pavement during the roadworks, and it would be dangerous for pedestrians. Work was delayed while road closures were obtained.

ÒThe work is to be completed to a very high standard. It is not gong to be a rush job and the contractors are working closely with local businesses to minimise the impact,Ó she added.

ÒIt will probably be completed within the next seven to ten days and then it will have to be resurfaced. The resurfacing will only take one day but dry weather will be needed, and the road will not be opened until the resurfacing work is complete.Ó