IPSWICH: Businesses and residents are invited to give their views on major gas works set to take place in the town centre over the next eight months.

National Grid is holding a drop-in event next week to provide people with more information about the �150,000 gas mains upgrade, which will affect several streets.

The company will be replacing 700 metres of gas main in Upper Orwell Street, Major’s Corner, St Margaret’s Street, St Margaret’s Green, and Soane Street, together with short stretches of Fore Street, Eagle Street, Bolton Lane, Carr Street, and Great Colman Street. The existing iron mains will be replaced with new long-lasting plastic pipes that have a lifespan of 80 years if left undisturbed in the ground. The work is due to start in April and last eight months.

Traffic will be mainly managed via temporary traffic lights and lane closures, but there will be phased road closures of Upper Orwell Street during the summer.

Karl Shipp, National Grid project manager, said: “This project will help to secure safe and reliable gas supplies to businesses and residents for decades to come. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the plans in more detail with local people and address any queries or concerns they may have. We are working with the local authorities to reduce the impact on the town.”

Like other businesses in the town, Claire Kalinowska, owner of K’s Coffee Lounge in Fore Street, received a letter from National Grid about the plans.

She said: “This is a very busy road with the buses. We will want to know what is happening down here. However most of our customers come on foot so hopefully it won’t affect us.”

The event is being held on Wednesday, March 7, between 3pm and 9pm, at St Margaret’s Church, Bolton Lane.

n What do you think of the plans? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starnews@archant.co.uk