COMMUTERS will be bracing themselves for delays after work was announced on some of the town's major roads.

Gas pipeline company Transco says work will start in Gipsy Lane next Monday to upgrade the town's gas supply network.

The firm is building a new £1.6m mile and a half long pipeline from its depot in Gipsy Lane to Drakes Way and the 15-week project will involve closures of lanes in Ciren-cester Way and Ocotal Way.

Further work will follow this summer in Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, Groundwell Road and 12 streets near Queen's Drive in Walcot.

No exact date has been set for when this work will start. The total cost of all the projects is £3.8 million.

Commuters will remember the chaos caused by Transco when Cricklade Street in Old Town was closed for eight weeks from the start of February this year.

Old Town traders demanded compensation, blaming a fall in business when traffic was diverted away from the area.

A butcher in Gorse Hill who was forced to close his Cricklade Road shop last Friday, after a new set of traffic lights slowed traffic down so much that many drivers started to avoid the road altogether, says more roadworks will be yet another blow to Gorse Hill traders.

He said: "This can only make things worse. A couple of years ago the water board dug Cricklade Road up and that hit takings.

"It seems to go on and on. We can take just one or the other but not everything together.

"I know other shops are suffering and this can only make it harder for them."

Coun Maurice Fanning (Lab), who is ward councillor for Gorse Hill and Pinehurst, said that he would be working to ensure the work was completed to deadline but warned there was not that much the council could do to minimise the disruption.

He said: "There is very little the council can do apart from keep a close watch and ensure everything is put back right so there is nothing we have to tidy up afterwards.

"I would ask people to bear with us and we will minimise the disruption and hope everything is better when it's finished than when it's started.

"With a bit of luck and a following wind the gas board won't be followed by the electricity board, British Telecom and the water board."

Transco's network manager Paul Reynolds said: "We are co-ordinating the projects with the council highways department, emergency services and local businesses to help minimise disruption during these essential works.

"Wherever possible we will be using modern, time saving key-hole techniques to insert the new plastic pipe through the existing pipe so cutting down on the disturbance to residents and commuters."