LOCAL businesses along Upper Hale Road have expressed their dissatisfaction at the advertising of a five-month gas pipe replacement programme by Southern Gas Networks. The vital 1.5 km project, which began on January 23, sees iron gas pipes replaced with polyethylene pipe over six stages, which will see the busy thoroughfare out of action until June. While access for residents and local businesses is maintained at all times, several of the 11 business establishments have contacted The Herald about the situation - and to reiterate that they are trading. "There are no signs at all saying that businesses are open," said Tom Stuart, owner of The Lobster Pot restaurant. "What we are saying is: yes they have to replace the gas pipes, and it is going to affect everyone, but could they not have consulted with us? "While they are digging up the roads and making repairs, couldn't they have provided sufficient signs saying that the businesses are open?" he asked. "If you follow the diversion signs you will see that it's very hard to turn up Upper Hale Road from the Farnborough Road. As soon as you do, you see 'Road Closed', so people will more than likely turn back. It's all very confusing. "It's a nightmare for us. They didn't let us know the scale of these roadworks. I certainly didn't think it was going to be this major. "But we have to be pro-active and do something about it. Could there not be a sign for all the business saying that we are open as normal and that you can get to us? All you need is two reasonably sized signs. We're not asking for Piccadilly Circus here." When asked about his concerns until June, Mr Stuart was realistic in his appraisal. "We have to budget for the next five months. We currently have 16 staff and they receive a basic salary and bonuses based on turnover. If things carry on like this, their paypackets are going to be smaller, aren't they? "Friday is usually the busiest day at lunchtime and to have nothing in the book is very strange," he said. Meanwhile, Taryn Andrews of Luke Anthony hairdressers and beauticians was more bleak in her outlook. "It's just going to kill us if it carries on for five months. We didn't have any clients in on Monday," she said. "There's no signs to say we are open and I'm really worried about how it's going to work out." And Mrs Andrews is also unhappy at what she perceives to be a lack of warning from Southern Gas Networks. "I never knew anything until the proprietor of The Lobster Pot told me. No one spoke to me personally apart from the foreman on the roads - they should have at least given us a few months' warning in advance so we could have prepared for this. "It's like a ghost town. It's not obvious that the road is open and people are very confused by it," she added. June Bartholomew, of Bartholomews domestic appliances and engineers remarked: "It's very difficult to say after one week, but it's not good as I have had no passing trade. The workmen themselves are very helpful but it's not good and I'll monitor the situation. If I'm down from last year, I'll be contacting the gas board. "We weren't told months in advance - it was just before Christmas. We could have done advertising in local papers if we had been properly warned. I would have liked the signs to be bigger and would have liked a little more warning," she added. In response to these claims a Southern Gas Network spokesman said: "We've had to improve the signs since last Thursday (Jan 26) and more of them will be put up. We are having two more being made for businesses in Willow Way and specific signs made for The Lobster Pot and other businesses along Upper Hale Road."
