WILTSHIRE Council has confirmed that the approach towards the Fieldways roundabout on Hilperton Road will consist of two lanes, after residents expressed concern that it would be reduced to one.

However, motorists should be prepared for more misery for from July 20 when Wales & West Utilities start gas main replacement work in Church Street, Hilperton - closing the road for six weeks.

Wales and West Utilities had initially delayed the work at the start of this year with the hope that it would not take place until after the Hilperton Relief Road was completed, so it could be used as the diversion route.

But the council has told the Wiltshire Times that construction of the relief road, which was originally expected to finish this month, will now not be completed until the end of September.

Wales and West Utilities is unable to wait any longer to start the vital work in Church Street. The company is in the process of replacing more than 1.7km of gas pipe in Hilperton as part of its 30-year replacement programme.

A spokesman for Wales and West Utilities said: “We will be working in Church Street, Hilperton, to replace more than 400m of old metal gas pipes with new plastic ones, so that the area continues to receive a safe and reliable supply of gas now and in the future.

“Work will start on 20 July and we anticipate it will take 6 weeks to complete. So that the general public, road users and our workforce are kept safe while we are working, Church Street will be closed for the duration of this work. Diversion routes will be clearly signposted.

“This work has been agreed with the local highways authority, and it has been planned over the school holidays in order to minimise disruption as much as possible.”

Traffic, including the giant Great Bear delivery lorries which travel between Cereal Partners in Staverton and the firm’s distribution depot in Melksham, will now be diverted through Trowbridge, including Timbrell Street, Islington and part of The Down.

Wiltshire Council does expect the remodelled Fieldways roundabout on Hilperton Road to be back up to two full width lanes by the time the gas main replacement work starts.

Peter Mundy, who lives in Hilperton, wrote to the Wiltshire Times last week after becoming concerned that the changes being made to the roundabout included reducing it to one lane.

He said: “It would appear that the work being carried out now is to reduce the number of lane to one at the roundabout and vehicles will have to filter. If this is the case, I foresee that that traffic queues will increase particularly at the peak time of the morning.”

The work, which is taking place as part of the construction of the long-awaited Hilperton Relief Road, is being carried out by contractor Bristlewand on behalf of Persimmon Homes, after planning permission was granted to developer in 2006.

A spokesman for the council told the Times: “The uphill approach from the south towards the remodelled roundabout on Hilperton Road will consist of two full width lanes.

“The ‘old’ lane markings have yet to be burnt off giving the illusion of narrowing - there is also some outstanding kerb realignment required on the nearside approach which will widen the total entry width to allow two full standard 3.5m lanes.”