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Traffic chaos fears around Fosse Park as roadworks planned

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Major delays are expected around Fosse Park during the May half-term as roadworks take place to install a gas main.

Bosses at the retail park have called on the county council to reschedule the work, saying it is a key trading time for business as the end of the month is when most people are paid.

However, the council has said the work should take place during the holiday week, when traffic volume is usually lower.

The work, which starts on Saturday, May 25 and is due to take a week to complete, will take place on the junction 21 approach section of the A5460, which links the M1 and M69 motorways to the Asda/ Fosse Park roundabout.

Lanes will be closed off to allow engineers to lay the pipe beneath the carriageway.

It is part of a wider scheme by British Gas to install the gas main, which will see work starting on a slip road off Narborough Road on Tuesday.

Fosse Park manager Adrian Young, who contacted the council's highways department to ask officers to rethink their timing of the scheme, said: "The end of the month is payday and a very significant trading time for us – and all businesses in the UK.

"They couldn't have picked a worse time to carry out the work.

"It's never going to be convenient, but if they could move it to the middle of the month that would help."

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce chairman Martin Traynor agreed the work would have an impact on business. He said: "Fosse Park is the second most successful out-of-town shopping centre in Europe – the Marks & Spencer and Next stores there are the highest turnover branches for their companies in the UK.

"So you can see that any disruptions would have huge implications on business."

Drivers will be severely affected by the lane restrictions during half-term, said Terry Kirby, chairman of the Campaign for Better Transport group.

He said: "This is going to affect a lot of people. That area is a nightmare anyway, all you need is a small incident and it turns into gridlock – absolute chaos."

County council bosses said they had carefully considered the impact the lane closures would have on traffic.

A spokeswoman said: "We have considered all road users and, with the large volume of traffic entering the area from junction 21 at peak times, it has been decided work on the A5460 will take place over the half-term week, when traffic volume is usually lower.

"We would like to thank motorists for their patience while work is carried out and advise alternative routes if at all possible."

Traffic chaos fears around Fosse Park as roadworks planned


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