I’ve just returned from a site visit to check progress. The primary cause of delay has been getting utilities companies on site to carry out necessary works. The most serious delay has been caused by Thames Water who took 8 weeks to repair a water leak reported in mid February and it has not been possible to progress the work near the junction with the A205 until the repair was complete. The reported leak coincided with the cold snap and I assume that Thames Water has been under unusually high pressure to repair leaks since then.

UK Power Networks were also causing delays to the work opposite Paddy Power but this has now been completed and works in the area to install gulleys has now completed. BT have advised lately of some of their future needs and this has been integrated into the scheme and is being completed at the moment to prevent damage to the scheme following completion.

All this utility work needed completing before the carriageway could be resurfaced and this resurfacing is now scheduled to take place from Mon 16th – Weds 18th with the road reopen from Thursday the 19th April. I am told there is now nothing outstanding that could get in the way of these dates. There’s a bit of paving to be completed in the main stretch of the high street but this is now coming on quickly and should be finished soon. The reinstatement of the works storage area outside Forest Lodge will be the last area to complete and the current estimated completion point is mid May.

I will ask Kier to clear the high street of their clutter as they complete each area so that the return towards normality is noticeable, even if the works are not totally complete.