Shopkeepers are up in arms that major roadworks taking place over the summer months could drive away the trade they have been busy trying to rekindle following the national economic downturn.

Gas excavations are due to take place on a number of the town’s major roads and traders fear that the word will get around that Marlborough is a no-go area, driving away shoppers and the valuable tourist trade.

Trader Eddie Grandy, who has been running his underwear and hosiery stall at the twice weekly markets for 35 years, said: “It will be terrible and shoppers will stay away like they did the last time we had major road works.

“We will lose money left, right and centre and there never is any compensation for loss of trade.”

Ken Ivens, who runs the Merlin Hotel, said that thankfully he had good advance bookings and he asked why the work could not take place in the winter instead.

Paul Evans, manager of Jesse Smith butchers in the High Street, said trade had been affected for a very long time during the last roadworks when New Road roundabout was closed.

“People will not come to Marlborough if the town is full of road works and it will devastate our trade,” he said.

Chaos is expected for the remainder of the summer and into the autumn when new gas mains are laid along some of the town’s busiest roads with work due to start this week and to last for as long as two months.

Wales and West Utilities, which maintains the pipes network for British Gas, will be installing a new main from the bottom of Coldharbour Lane, through St Martins, crossing The Green and then going along Oxford Street to New Road. Oxford Street will be closed for up to eight weeks.

WWU said the work had to be done before the winter to make sure the increasing demands for gas could be met.

Digging the trench along St Martins is likely to take between five and six weeks, the town council has been told. Parking normally takes place on both sides of this street but none will be allowed for the duration of the excavations, councillors were concerned to hear on Monday.

At the end of the summer the contractors will move on to George Lane, which will have one way traffic for several weeks and will be closed entirely for periods.

Town councillors have discussed possible alternative parking arrangements but decided these were up to the gas utility company.

Coun Stan Radnedge suggested to Monday’s town council meeting that a temporary parking area could be provided on The Common.

Mayor Nick Fogg said he accepted there would be parking problems and added: “I propose we take this up with the utility company.”