BOSSES at United Utilities have defended the closure of a main road through Radcliffe since July amid claims work has not been taking place.

The eight-month closure of Church Street West for a £1.7 million United Utilities sewer improvement scheme to clean up the River Irwell began on July 28.

Furious residents and business owners say - despite the erection of a compound across the front of several shops - they have rarely seen work being carried out there.

The road closure has forced traffic to be diverted through Blackburn Street and Spring Lane, causing gridlock in the town centre at rush-hour periods.

United Utilities was required to wait for National Grid to move a gas main under the road before the bulk of work could begin.

This was delayed due to National Grid not submitting the correct land ownership paperwork to Bury Council, but the Radcliffe Times understands this is now in order.

A spokesman for United Utilities said work had not stopped but admitted “changes to the programme” had been made due to the National Grid delay.

She added: “Our work to improve the sewer network at Church Street West has not been halted and it is making progress.

“We are having to make some changes to the work programme because of delays in the movement of a gas main.

“We are presently working on the river bank, preparing the site of the new overflow outfall. Other utility service diversions such as the movement of internet and electricity cables are taking place in the meantime.

“Because work has been going on in the compound area as well as on the river bank, there is no way the road closure could have started later.

“In order to complete the work on the riverbank we needed equipment and access from the road compound.”

The United Utilities project involves building a storm water storage tank under the road to prevent sewers from flooding or damaging roads if they overflow in heavy rainfall.

The spokesman said the road is not expected to be closed for any longer than the eight months originally stated, meaning the works should be completed March next year .

Earlier this year Radcliffe West councillor Tony Isherwood said Bury Council had put pressure on United Utilities to try and finish the work more quickly and re-open the road before Christmas.

Michael Hardman, manager at Mad Mix, said business owners were extremely frustrated at the road closure.

He said: “The workers have spent the last eight weeks trying to shore up the river bank, so why did the main road need to be closed for all this time?

“It is having a huge impact on business and is driving people away from the town centre.”

The United Utilities spokesman added: “We have also looked again at the size of the compound area and by moving the site cabins our team has managed to reduce the length of road that is closed.

“This has allowed us to take down the hoardings that were obstructing the view of around five businesses.”

The Radcliffe Times understands these hoardings were taken down due to permission for the compound only being in place for part of the road.