FIRMS hit by a decision to close Newland Street in Coleford for works by Welsh Water say they are still unhappy following a public meeting on the issue.

"We have an agreement to contact the site manager if we need to get a large transporter in and out but there is still a three-mile detour for customers to reach us from town," said Whitecliff garage owner Steve Young.

He also spoke for the other businesses in the road which will be hit by the nine-week closure. They claim they had scant notice of the closure and no chance of making alternative arrangements while the drainage works are carried out.

Meanwhile Welsh Water has responded to claims that not enough notice had been given on the road closure.

"In preparation for the Coleford scheme, Welsh Water agreed the road closure with the highways department of the local authority and paid the council for this to include advertising in local newspapers," said a spokesperson. 

"We aim to do this a minimum of eight weeks before works are due to start and in this case the closure application was submitted to the local authority on December 8 last year.

"Letters were sent directly by Welsh Water to nearly 400 properties in the vicinity of the scheme works on March 7, advising of the planned work and the public information event, as well as providing a direct contact for further information.

"In addition, land agents working on behalf of Welsh Water have also been speaking directly with local businesses, during the planning stage of the work, to advise them about the scheme, and to understand their access requirements so that these can be accommodated as much as is possible during the work period.

"The public information event (March 17) was held close to the actual start of works, to make it more relevant to local people and businesses, so that their immediate access needs can be understood and accommodated. 

"Project team members liaised with business owners and have agreed to make, in some cases, daily contact to make sure access for businesses is maintained as much as possible.  We have explained that where we can 'plate over' the road to enable access that is required, then we will do so, albeit that the more stops and starts there are on the job, the longer it will take to complete.

"I can see that despite best efforts, the project has come as news to some local people. We do know that work like this is inconvenient, but do try our best to work with local communities to ease the inconvenience."