UTILITY engineers who have been searching for a mystery gas leak in Trowbridge for the past six weeks have brought further traffic disruption to the town centre.

The Wales & West Utilities gas engineers have been digging up pavements in the Roundstone Street/Silver Street area since early January.

Now they have started digging up the road in their search for the leak, causing major headaches for motorists.

Wiltshire Times: Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Image: Trevor Porter 70621-2Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Image: Trevor Porter 70621-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The route from Church Street into Silver Street and Roundstone Street is a popular one for drivers, including those who run buses and delivery vehicles into the town centre.

The gas engineers have moved their search from the Silver Street junction further along Roundstone Street to check whether the leak is in the mains pipe.

They have created a huge hole in the road on one of the main bus routes into Silver Street and Market Street.

Wiltshire Times: Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Image: Trevor Porter 70621-3Gas engineers looking for the mystery gas leak in Roundstone Street and Silver Street areas of Trowbridge have closed the road, bringing disruption to traffic. Image: Trevor Porter 70621-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Earlier this week, Dave Wyatt, the owner of DW Money Services, which is located on the corner of Roundstone Steet and Silver Street, said the work to find the source of the leak had caused massive disruption to his business.

He said: “They started digging up the road and then stopped work at 2.30pm and have gone home. The road is now closed and it will be like this all weekend.

Wiltshire Times: Dave Wyatt, of DW Money Services, says the search for the gas leak has caused massive disruption to his business. Photo: Trevor Porter 70594-1Dave Wyatt, of DW Money Services, says the search for the gas leak has caused massive disruption to his business. Photo: Trevor Porter 70594-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

“The street is absolutely dead. There is nobody coming down this way.

“The buses won’t be able to get through. They will have to find an alternative route, and it will also affect the delivery vans.

“The weekends are usually our busiest time, so we don’t want the road to be closed. It will probably stay closed until Monday now.”

Earlier this week, Alan Vickerstaff, Wales & West Utilities gas emergency service manager for Trowbridge said: "We are working in the Silver Street area of Trowbridge to locate and repair a leak on the gas pipe running beneath the road.

“This is a complex job and we are taking all steps to understand the cause of the leak and how long our work will take. Once we have located the source of the leak, we will need to dig down and make a repair. 

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of local residents and road users while we carry out this essential work.

“Whilst it is important that we fix this leak now, it does not pose any serious safety concerns and there is no impact on local gas supplies.”