Closure of busy Fakenham street to be revised after plan is rejected
Anglian Water. Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant
Plans to close a main road into Fakenham are being revised after outcry from businesses and the town council who said it would cause serious harm to Christmas trade.
Oak Street in Fakenham could be temporarily closed in December. Picture: Adam Lazzari - Credit: Archant
The initial plan, on behalf of Anglian Water, proposed temporarily closing Oak Street on December 11 for three days but criticism from businesses and the town council prompted Norfolk County Council’s Highways team to reject it.
Highways have informed Anglian Water that they will need to consult with the town council and the businesses on Oak Street in order to find a more suitable time.
Fakenham Town Council called for the work to be pushed back until the second week of January but a spokesperson from the county council said that they are currently working with Anglian Water to see if there is a way of providing water to the property before Christmas.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We know how disruptive roadworks can be, that’s why we’re working with the Highways Team to bring the work planned on Oak Street in Fakenham forward into November and avoid the Christmas shopping period.
“We’ll be talking to local businesses to identify the least disruptive time before the end of the month for us to complete the work and connect the new development is to its water supply.”
News that the date could be revised to November has been welcomed by Mayor George Acheson who said it is “definitely better” than December.
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Adrian Vertigan, former mayor and manager of the Salvation Army store on Oak Street, was less positive.
“I think November still causes trouble as it gives us less time to prepare,” he said.
“In some sense, an earlier date is better as it is not as close to Christmas but we are already in November. That means this will probably be the back end of November unless Anglian Water applies for an emergency closure,
“Neither November or December are good months to do this, my personal preference is January, which I think would be much more suited to the town and to Oak Street.”
Are you concerned about the impact the closure of Oak Street could have on Fakenham during Christmas? Let us know by emailing steve.shaw@archant.co.uk.
Read more: Road closure plans spark angerRead more: Calls for roadworks closure to be pushed back due to fears over Christmas trade
