FINGERS are crossed that Okehampton will be free from roadworks by mid-April after an assurance from South West Water contractors that water mains work will be completed in the next two weeks.

A representative from John Kennedy, the firm contracted by South West Water to carry out the work, was invited to the chamber of trade meeting last Thursday following a number of complaints from traders and townspeople over the congestion being caused in the town.

The meeting was told it could take anything up to 45 minutes to get through the town centre because of the trenches that had been dug in Exeter Road, West Street and St James Street.

Cycle shop owner Darren Bostock said it was a shame the work had not been done a little earlier.

'This work has coincided with the grand opening of our superstore,' he said. 'We have been looking forward to having a free-running town for so long and this has ruined the opening of our new store.'

The roadworks were considered to be another headache for traders who had already lost trade due to the temporary closure of the shoppers' car park because of the Waitrose construction.

This was followed by roadworks from Devon County Council Highways who were installing new traffic schemes in the town.

Liaison officer for John Kennedy, Chris Wright, said the firm regretted that it had been an inconvenience to everyone but the work was being done to give all in the town a better quality of

water.

The work had taken longer than anticipated because they had found things when digging that they had previously not known about.

Mr Wright said South West Water had to spend its budget money by April 1 or it would lose it.

'That is why we have pushed ourselves in a bit abruptly — it is not the way we would wish for it to be,' he said.

He said the work was due to be completed in the second week of April.

He told the meeting the mains pipes need to be chlorinated and flushed and then connected — the latter job would be done at night-time to cause the least disruption to people because the water had to be switched off.

He said any business wishing to seek compensation from South West Water would need to produce three years' accounts and the accounts for the period of time the roadworks had been in place.

'The company will look at the claim and consider the position of the works in relation to the business but they will only pay profit,' he said.

Chairman of the chamber, Ian Bailey, said he knew there was never a good time to carry out this sort of work but he hoped there would be better liaison between parties in the future.

'Perhaps you can pass that on to Devon County Highways,' he added.

Manager of Waitrose John Webb said it had been disappointing to find these roadworks in place just after opening but there was not a lot that could be done about it.

'Hopefully, it will be finished soon and the roads will be fully open again,' he said.