TRADERS are anxious about the impact a 26-week gas main replacement project in Nottingham.
National Grid is investing nearly �500,000 in replacing nearly one kilometre of old metal mains in Mansfield Road with new plastic pipes.
The phased project is due to start on May 9 and will also affect Milton Street, Huntingdon Street, Woodborough Road, Shakespeare Street and Bluecoat Street.
Many bus stops are due to be moved during the work.
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the works, which National Grid say are necessary for continued safe, secure and reliable gas supplies.
But Umit Kaya, 26, owner of City Off-licence, in Mansfield Road, said: "It's bad news definitely. People will not want to walk past."
Michael Scholes, 53, licensee at the Peacock pub in Mansfield Road, said: "It will be interesting to see what happens with the buses. A lot of our customers live in Sherwood. People have a drink here after work before getting the bus."
One Peacock regular, a 56-year-old man from St Ann's, said he shared Michael's concerns. "I feel for Michael," he said. "It's bad enough at the moment for roadworks at the top of Woodborough Road in Mapperley.
"We know from coming in here between 4.30pm and 5pm that this place gets packed. If people can't catch the buses outside, the Peacock will lose a lot of trade."
Lynda Merrick, a hairdresser at Dave's Centre Styles, in Mansfield Road, said: "It sounds like a long time – 26 weeks.
"It might put some people off. A lot of people work in town but you also get people who drive in. It depends if they can still park all right."
Melanie Newbold, 28, general manager of the Orange Tree pub in Shakespeare Street, said: "Driving into Nottingham city centre is a nightmare, especially in rush hour.
"Most of our customers and staff come by public transport."
The bus stop in Milton Street outside the Victoria Centre is among the stops set to be moved during the gas-pipe replacement works.
Mum-of-two Lynn Keys, 40, was among those waiting for the Local Link L5 service to take her back home to Wollaton Park.
"We have had this bus stop moved backwards and forwards lots of times," she said.
"People tend to forget its been moved. It's inconvenient for the drivers too."
National Grid construction engineer Dave Orton said: "The project has been carefully planned with the local authority and the bus company, and all road closures and diversions will be clearly signposted.
"We will do everything we can to keep traffic moving while we are working and make sure businesses continue to operate as normal."
He said gas supplies would only be affected when the gas supply was being transferred from the old gas pipe to the new one.
Homes and businesses affected will be notified in advance of when this will take place in their street.
City centre traders and residents wanting to find out more about the project are being urged by National Grid to attend a drop-in day at the International Community Centre in Mansfield Road between 10am and 8pm on Wednesday, April 6.
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