EMERGENCY sewer repairs which were due to close one of Wilmslow’s busiest shopping streets over Christmas have been rushed through after outcry from business owners.

Traders from Chapel Lane’s 38 businesses were stunned when they arrived to open on Monday, December 11, to find the road blocked by United Utilities with traffic cones and road closure signs.   

Owner of Peter Herd of Wilmslow, a fifth generation family bakery, Katrina Gatto-Allman, said she ‘literally felt sick’ when she saw the disruption, adding: “We were given absolutely no warning.

“To do this on a road where there are 38 small businesses, in the weeks running up to Christmas, would have been catastrophic.”

Knutsford Guardian: Katrina Gatto-Allman (right) and her mum Carol Gatto Hall are the fourth and fifth generation to run Peter Herd of WilmslowKatrina Gatto-Allman (right) and her mum Carol Gatto Hall are the fourth and fifth generation to run Peter Herd of Wilmslow (Image: Katrina Gatto-Allman)

“We usually have queues out the door."

Katrina contacted United Utilities who confirmed the road closure was planned to last until Friday, December 29.

They told her no prior warning was necessary as they were dealing with a collapsed Victorian sewer, which they classed as an emergency.  

But despite the road being closed, Katrina could see no signs of any work actually being done.

“If it was so much of an emergency, why weren’t they working on it six or seven hours a day?” she said.

Katrina and her fellow Chapel Lane traders took to their phones to put pressure on United Utilities.

This included a call to Tatton MP, Ester McVey - whose constituency office is on Chapel Lane - and who did what she could to have the work rushed through.

Then on Friday, December 15, United Utilities contacted Katrina to confirm the work had been completed and the road was set to re-open the following morning.

“We were over the moon,” Katina added.

“It was real people power. The support we received on social media was amazing.

“A huge thanks to Esther McVey too. She was very quick off the mark.”

Esther McVey said: “I contacted United Utilities and made it clear, if this work couldn’t be postponed, it needed to be expedited and the road reopened as soon as possible.

“For many businesses, this is the busiest time of the year, and to have these road works sprung on them was not helpful.

“I’m firmly on the side of our local businesses and did everything I could to help them."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: “We understand any road closure is unwelcome, but we needed to act quickly to carry out emergency repairs to the sewer on Chapel Lane after the council reported a depression in the road.

“The good news is that the sewer is now repaired, and we reopened the road on Saturday, December 15.

“We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused, and we thank the local community for their patience.”