SGN understood to be lifting closure of B3058 Bashley Road for gas main replacement a month earlier than scheduled

“THEY could have finished three weeks ago,” one frustrated trader has said as roadworks through Bashley are to be cleared today – a month ahead of schedule.

Bashley Plant Centre is among businesses which have reported a drop in footfall and takings due to SGN replacing a main on the B3058 Bashley Common Road.

As reported in the A&T, the road was shut between the Rising Sun pub and the Ossemsley South Drive junction from 6th January.

Having rejected a partial closure with traffic lights – preferred by businesses – for health and safety reasons, the gas firm projected a finish date of 28th March.

But contractors have reportedly been clearing up at the scene for the past few days after completing the replacement of old metal gas mains with new plastic pipes.

This failed to impress plant centre owner Paul Follett, who told the A&T: “They might say they’ve finished a month ahead of schedule but, I’m not joking, they could have finished three weeks ago.

“It’s just ridiculous. I don’t know how they price a job like that, but they could have got it done weeks ago if they just got on with it.

“It’s obviously down to the gas board. There’s no foreman down here.

“As a manual worker, I think it’s crazy. I’m aware there’s been no problems and it’s been pretty straightforward.”

Mr Follett said the workers seemed to have “dragged their feet”, and had heard previous rumoured earlier completion dates.

Having branded the closure “a kick in the teeth” for traders, he estimated the 60-year-old family business had seen an 80% footfall drop.

He reiterated that the amount of road closure signs, as well as the workers’ vans with flashing lights, was putting off potential customers.

“They finished almost a week ago, but they’ve spent all this time filling holes in. It’s farcical,” Mr Follett continued.

“I’ve just got no traffic coming by. It’s alright if you live here because it’s nice and quiet, but not if you’ve got a business.

“I may as well have gone on holiday for a month.

“To be honest, they could have finished three weeks earlier, then they could have got the bunting out and celebrated.”

Hopeful that trade will again pick up, with spring approaching, he plans to apply for compensation once the closure has lifted. But he stressed: “Applying and getting is two different things.”

Dennis Sparks, who co-owns Bashley Village Stores with his wife Carol, recently spoke of the works’ “diabolical” impact on their business.

A 40% footfall drop was estimated, with this largely attributed to a loss of passing trade, with motorists not willing to divert to visit.

Hoping for recovery in the run-up to Easter, he said at the time: “I think we’ll be okay, but if there are any more nasty shocks in the future, I don’t think we will be.”

Debbie Loader, who co-directs Loaders Garage with husband Matt, previously estimated trade had halved.

Praising locals for promoting the business on social media, she believed it could recoup its losses over the rest of the year.

Renowned motorcycling legend Sammy Miller has been a strong critic of the project, and earlier this month expressed fears the works would stretch beyond 28th March.

Estimating a 40% footfall drop at his museum and café on nearby Bashley Cross Road, he slammed the project as “a shambles”.

Mr Miller had argued Hampshire County Council should have imposed an injunction on SGN to supply cost and competency plus penalty fines for not completing on time.

New Milton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid, who has been sharing regular progress updates from SGN, told the A&T he understood the site would be cleared by 4pm today (Friday).

“They’re doing it faster than scheduled, which is obviously of benefit,” he said.

“I understand the businesses have been informed of a compensation scheme they can apply for, and hopefully they can use this to recover any losses.

“SGN say they will re-seed the verges where they have been damaged.

“They’ve been relatively quick and clean.

“It’s one of the main routes into New Milton, and we are pleased that they have done it faster than scheduled.”

A spokesperson for SGN confirmed: “We are pleased to advise the gas main replacement work on Bashley Common Road is now complete and the road will be officially back open to through traffic by 3pm today.

“Our traffic management company will start removing signage from site today and tomorrow, with all operational equipment removed by 4pm tomorrow Saturday. Signs on the diversion routes will be turned off today and removed tomorrow.

“The team still have work activity within the verges.”

They added: “This project has been successfully delivered 28 days ahead of our planned completion date. We have replaced a total of 900 meters of medium-pressure gas main and all service connections to properties.

“This gas main is critical for the supply of gas to the wider community, by replacing the pipe we can ensure we avoid further disruptive emergency gas escapes on this section of pipe in the future and ensure we maintain local supplies.

“We’d like to thank the community for their support, we appreciate how disruptive this closure has been for you all.”