IT'S all systems go for this year's Radcliffe Carnival after United Utilities guaranteed that sufficient work on Church Street West will be completed in time.

Major sewer improvement works have caused traffic chaos, with the road closed for more than eight months, missing the initial intended completion date in March.

Delays caused by heavy rain and challenges caused by the poor condition of often uncharted sewers prompted fears that the annual carnival might not be able to be held on June 6 and 7.

But it has now been confirmed that the carnival will be going ahead.

Helen Apps, spokeswoman for United Utilities, said: “It was great to be able to give the good news to the Carnival committee because we know how difficult it was for them to plan around the uncertainty.

“We are now at the stage where we can guarantee a route through Church Street West.

“Some of our remaining work is weather dependant and if the river levels stay high we may need to return to finish off some aspects after the carnival.

“But come hell or high water, we will make sure the show can go on, even if we re-open the road temporarily.

“We hope everyone will come along for the event and show their support for Radcliffe.”

The £3 million project, which is designed to improve the cleanliness of the River Irwell, has seen the road closed since July last year.

Carnival chairman Andrew Clarkson was delighted with the announcement: “We are very, very pleased with the news that United Utilities have made some considerable progress.

“We are now moving ahead with our plans for the 50th anniversary of the carnival.

“We were worried that if the work was not finished in time, we would really be struggling to do what we have been doing so well for the last 50 years.

“It’s important that we maintain this Radcliffe tradition, and that had been in question until now.”

Councillor Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, told the last full council meeting that the project had been “a challenging one”, but had expected the work to be complete by June in order to accommodate the carnival.