PETERSFIELD shopkeepers and market traders will be furious if planned major roadworks in the town are not carried out on schedule, town councillors have warned.

And this week traders said they were dreading the start of the work. They are praying that lessons had been learned after major roadworks in Petersfield several years ago lasted 23 weeks, which Ònearly finished the townÓ.

At a meeting of the town councilÕs finance and general purposes committee last Thursday, chairman George Watkinson reported that roadworks being carried out in St PeterÕs Road could take another three weeks.

They are part of the enhancements proposed by the Petersfield Area Transport Study, which was commissioned by Hampshire County Council in partnership with East Hampshire District Council more than two years ago.

Mr Watkinson said he had contacted county councillor John West: ÒI made him aware that the roadworks have been going on nearly five weeks. They were two weeks late starting, and talking to the workers, they reckon they will be there for another three to four weeks.Ó he told the meeting.

ÒMr West told me that there had been great difficulties getting a firm to take on the work in the first place because there is so much work available in Hampshire. I told him that if we go on in this way the shopkeepers and the market traders will be up in arms.Ó

Leading town trader Jill Towner told The Herald she was dreading the new roadworks after the chaos caused ten years ago, when town centre roads were remodelled after the town was bypassed.

ÒThere were enhancement works in Dragon Street and the High Street which went on for 23 weeks. It nearly finished the town,Ó she said.

ÒThere were even announcements on the radio telling people not to go to Petersfield.Ó

She said the Town Forum was formed after this to make sure there was never any repeat of the chaos, Òbut the forum has since been axed because the town council did not support it, and these latest roadworks are a fine example of why the forum was needed.Ó

ÒThere are no trade organisations in the town now,Ó added Mrs Towner Òand there is nobody to defend Petersfield. I am really worried about it.Ó

She warned the county council to make sure the contract was watertight.

ÒIt is all down to the detail of what can be done and when it should be done in the contract, and St PeterÕs roadworks are a great example of what we are in for if the contract is not drawn up properly.Ó

County councillor John West is due to report on progress in St PeterÕs Road to town councillors on Monday.

He told The Herald this week: ÒWe are pressing the contractors to get this work finished as soon as possible.Ó

He said one of the problems had probably been caused by not enough workmen being employed on the site. But he added: Òthese re-laying jobs are difficult. There is no point in having a crowd of unskilled people, it is better that the work is done carefully and slowly.Ó

He said the county council intended combining the next phase of work in The Square, Hylton Road and the High Street into one contract.

ÒThere will be time gaps between the three stages, but combining the work together will make it more attractive to a larger contractor and we will be impressing on them the importance of not disrupting the town any longer than is necessary.Ó

Mr West said work in The Square was due to start in September, Hylton Road was scheduled to start over the half- term holiday in October and the High Street would be tackled in the new year.

The work will include improvements to the High Street and the Square, and the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit in the historic core of the town centre.