Traders, from left, Simon Hussey, Claire Thomas, Colin Gittins, Heather Derrick and Alan Williams are fed up that New Road is to close again for resurfacing 16199/4GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM faces further traffic chaos because a resurfacing blunder means New Road has to be ripped up less than two weeks after work was completed.

Wiltshire County Council has been forced to order the work to take place today and tomorrow after tests showed the surface was slippery and dangerous, and a particular hazard to cyclists and motorbikers.

The news has stunned traders already counting the cost of business lost following seven months of disruption from road works.

In a last ditch attempt to salvage earnings, 100 traders have signed a petition calling for compensation.

For Alan Williams, director of Shamrock Linens in New Road, news of the blunder is the final straw.

He said: "The continual chaos and lack of communication by the council has inevitably resulted in consumers going elsewhere, rather than make any attempt to get into Chippenham and then find a place to park.

"This has obviously greatly affected trade for all of us, in particular those in the immediate vicinity of the works area."

But a spokesman for the county council, which is responsible for Wiltshire's roads, shifted the blame to contractor RMC Surfacing Ltd.

He said the blunder was only picked up after the new road was laid and the cost of putting it right would come out of RMC's pocket.

"It is a potential danger, particularly to cyclists and motorcyclists, and work will have to be done to put it right," he said.

The council said it did not know how much the work would cost RMC, and refused to estimate a figure.

A spokesman for RMC said: "The problem we have experienced is unusual and was only revealed during routine quality testing testing which can only be done when the material has been laid. The safety of road-users and the public is our main concern and we have worked quickly with the council to remedy the problem. RMC Surfacing of course regrets the inconvenience caused."

Traders say the constant disruption is costing them dear, with some claiming business is down by up to 50 per cent. Mr Williams said: "We feel that we should be due some compensation for loss of trade, at the very least a reduction in rates for all the months involved."

Colin Gittins, owner of Premier Angling in New Road, said: "It's an absolute disgrace. This is terrible news for residents and businesses but I must say I wasn't surprised when I heard. We've suffered this since November last year.

"Our quietest trading days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays so if they really wanted to minimise disruption why don't they do it then?"

Patricia Sen, proprietor of Cappadocia, added: "We are all very angry. It's just one long nightmare."

The work will be carried out between 9.30am and 3.30pm to avoid peak times for traffic.