We are still open for business!

Sible Hedingham traders underlined the message at a heated meeting with gas company Transco.

Gas installation roadworks on the main road in the village, Swan Street, are causing long traffic tailbacks, making parking difficult and keeping customers away from small businesses.

Sixteen traders and supporters, including Clive Tanner, Braintree councillor for Sible Hedingham, attended the meeting.

Gail Eary, of butchers D R Eary and Sons, said: "Every morning, radio and television traffic news bulletins tell people to stay away from Sible Hedingham because of the roadworks.

"These people are our customers and we need them. Transco should have contacted us before they started."

Jo Beavis, owner of Rich Traditions bakers, called on regular shoppers who visit Sible Hedingham to support Swan Street businesses in their time of trouble.

She said: "Traders on Swan Street have supported the community, church and football team. We now need people to support us with their custom."

The work is due to go until the end of August. David Giles, Transco network operations manager, apologised to shopkeepers for the inconvenience.

He said: "We can take some criticism that we didn't discuss things with the traders. We believe it is something that we can take on board for the future.

"We will be providing parking spaces as we backfill and as we move forward the parking spaces will be behind us.

"Representatives from Transco will be seeing each business individually about compensation claims."

Transco have put signs up on the road that shops are open and the construction team leader will be liaising with all businesses affected by the roadworks as they progress up Swan Street.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.