'It's absolute bedlam': Locals fury at roadworks set to last another month

Residents and businesses say their lives are being made a misery by roadworks on a major Stockport road after bosses confirmed they would be continuing for another month.

A 145-year-old gas mains pipe is currently being replaced on Brinksway, close to the Stockport Pyramid roundabout. Only one lane of traffic is running in each direction on the stretch of road and the bend of the A560 near the Audi dealership which runs from the town centre to Edgeley and Cheadle Heath.

It is leading to delays at most times of the day, but things have been particularly bad during rush-hour with queues backing up into Cheadle Heath and onto the roundabout itself.

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Engineers have been working in the area since the summer after discovering 'multiple leaks.' They initially began repairing the 180-metre long pipe. However bosses at gas network firm Cadent announced last week that they had now decided to replace it. The work began on Monday and is set to last another four weeks.

And those living and working nearby say it is essential it is finished as soon as possible due to the extent of the disruption. Lewey Hellewell, 45, lives in Cheadle Heath but works in Blackley, north Manchester at the offices of the food charity he founded, Humans MCR.

He says the works are causing "absolute bedlam." He believes there has been a lack of communication with local businesses and residents, so much so this week took to contacting the office of the company's chief executive.

"You accept things as you know they need to improve things, but then months later you think to yourself 'I can't believe they are still doing this'" he said.

"It just extends my day at both ends, the ends of the day that you really don't want it extending. You have to get up early to make sure you aren't late, and then you are getting home much later. It's so frustrating. The M60 is an absolute nightmare every day and its just an extension of that. It has a real negative impact.

"And I can't believe the lack of information or communication. The CEO's office told me they had put things on their website and social media but the idea people are checking the social media accounts of their gas supplier is for the birds. They could have written to us to update us. And it's just so annoying when you drive past and see no one there.

"I was told if there was an emergency then teams could be called off to deal with that but you'd think a company that makes as much as Cadent could have enough engineers to carry on with this important work that's been going on for months and is causing significant disruption to people's lives. It isn't the work I have an issue with, it is the treatment of local residents."

He added he believed it was "only a matter of time" before there was an accident at the junction. It's absolute bedlam and it's dangerous" he said. "It's only a matter of time before there's an accident as that junction isn't currently being managed properly or in correlation with their temporary lights.

"If emergency services tried to get through at rush-hour they would have significant challenges. They have got to get on and get them finished as soon as is practicable possible and keep local people in the loop about whats happening.

Jack Vale, 26, a supervisor at dog grooming firm Muttley Crew, based right opposite the roadworks site on Brinksway, said the delays were proving a "massive inconvenience" to both staff and customers. "It's causing massive issues," he said.

"Not just for clients, but for the staff as well. We have our own private yard where we park as we need our vehicles close to the premises for the safety of the dogs, the clients and ourselves. It's high-risk working with dogs.

"But we're not able to do that as much anymore due to their lorries and vans coming through. We are also having to ask clients to drop off and go as quickly as possible.

Jack also said they had found debris in their front yard, as well as on occasion having the barrier to their car park obstructed. He also said staff are knocking on their door "almost daily" to check gas levels, despite them having no gas lines into their premises.Cadent say this

"This has been going on for months. We have tried to move things around and carry on but it's getting harder. We're having to apologise when "its nothing to do with us. It's a huge inconvenience and there doesn't seem to be enough care for local businesses.

Anthony Holt, manager at nearby car showroom John Delany Motors said: "We have noticed a lot more congestion. And it can get quite congested anyway, especially around rush hour, so it certainly isn't helping.

"I have to turn right down Chestergate and regularly you can't as cars who are turning right onto Brinksway can't get through and are blocking the junction.

"We've had customers being late for appointments as well as they are struggling to get here due to traffic. Obviously we can't say for certain its that traffic, but it seems likely."

Stockport-based supervisor Luke Henshall, who is managing the project for Cadent, said: “This is the most complex job I’ve been involved with in my 20 years at Cadent.

"When the first signs of leaks came in during the summer, we took immediate action to keep everyone safe and ensure an uninterrupted supply of gas to the homes, schools, offices and other buildings which this pipe helps distributes gas to.

"What we’re dealing with is a pipe that was installed in the late 1800s, and – put simply – while it is safe now, we can’t be assured of that for much longer.

“We can’t keep repairing it, which leads to disruption – like now – every time we visit. It’s time for us to replace it.” He said big holes had been dug in the road ahead of the beginning this week of three weeks of the welding together and installation of tough new plastic piping. They say it will take a further week to reinstate the road before re-opening it.

Mr Henshall added: "“We know this is frustrating for motorists, and we do appreciate everyone’s patience.
“We are now about to start the final phases of work, which involves three weeks of welding and pipe insertion, and then around one more week to reinstate the road.”

However, one local councillor said he wasn't hopeful of the completion date being met. David Meller, councillor for Cheadle East & Cheadle Hulme North said: "This work has been going on for months. We’ve now got to the point where the gas pipes are going to be replaced, but it brings with it more pain for those who depend on Brinksway to get from A-to-B.

"I’d love to know what Cadent has actually done up to now on this stretch. I’ve chased and asked questions of our council officers, who have been good at getting responses, but they’ve been nothing but holding ones from Cadent.

"Cadent’s works across Stockport continually snarl up the highway, often with little to no notice, and cause so much disruption. They serve a crucial purpose, of course, but I do feel they have little consideration of the impact they cause on people. Let’s see if this work takes four weeks. I can’t say I’m hopeful but I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised."