CHRISTMAS cheer has returned to Abergavenny town centre as the deafening din of construction work on Frogmore Street’s gas mains has ceased.

Wales & West Utilities originally believed the project wouldn’t be completed before December 20, due to the significant engineering complications experienced during the required work on the gas pipelines under the streets of Abergavenny.

But the utilities company made an extra effort and finished their work at the junction of High Street and Frogmore Street on Sunday December 13, a week earlier than expected.

Monmouthshire County Council asked for the works to be carried out during December so that it would not clash with the busy summer tourism season, or the £1 million street improvements planned for the pedestrianised town centre to be carried out in the new year prior to the National Eisteddfod in August 2016.

However, this decision was met with harsh criticism from many local shopkeepers, who felt the works have had a detrimental effect on their earnings over the Christmas shopping period.

The unexpected early completion of the works has been warmly welcomed by these shopkeepers.

Richard Barber, manager of Nicholls, said, “In all fairness to the utilities firm, they have been very helpful and understanding to local businesses throughout the work, and they have really pushed to get it done as quickly as possible.

“We have noticed a reasonable increase in footfall since the work has been completed, but a much larger problem for us at the moment is the development of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road.

“There was a stark difference in our number of customers during the closure of the A465 several weeks ago.”

He added, “I think that in the future there needs to be a longer consultation process for roadworks and other construction projects in the town centre.

“The council and contractors need to consult with a variety of businesses, and consider the opinions of those who earn most of their yearly revenue outside of the summer peak-tourism period.”

George Morgan who works at Extons Clothing said, “It is good to see the gas works being completed ahead of schedule, but I must admit our footfall has not actually been affected that much.

“In fact, I would say that the closure of Lion Street has actually encouraged more people into the pedestrianised street and we have noticed a greater influx of visitors into the shop.”

He added, “The noise of the jackhammer was not really a problem either.

“Abergavenny is usually such a busy, bustling town already and I don’t think it has really fazed our customers.”

But Geraint Tibbs, who works at Tony Pryce Sports was not so content.

He said, “Obviously we are pleased that the work has been finished, but the damage to our sales has already been done.

“The Winter Weekend for the Abergavenny Food Festival really helped our sales, but are we going to be able to make up the difference? I don’t know.”

Wales & West Utilities has urged any shopkeepers who feel that the construction work has impacted upon their business to contact their customer services team on 0800 912 2999.

Melanie Hole, Wales & West Utilities Programme Controller for East Wales, said, “We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while we were working and the new upgraded gas pipe will make sure that homes and businesses in the area continue to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas now and in the future.

“We’re now clearing away our site facilities, outside the bus depot, and will be away from the site completely by the end of the week.”

She added, “There is one remaining service pipe to be connected to the new gas pipe, outside Timpsons, that we will need to complete early in January.

“This will involve us digging a small hole about one metre square, and should take no more than two days to finish.”

The gas works that the company have undertaken are part of a 30-year mains replacement scheme that is being undertaken across Wales and the south west of England, which began in 2002.

The work has required the company to replace old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings with new long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years.