WATERWORKS that have overrun by one week are causing chaos to trade according to a shopkeeper.

A section of College Road, Harrow has been blocked off outside Harrow Bus Station since last week due to ongoing water works by Affinity Water.

Work to fix a leak began on Monday, November 2 and the site was blocked off and holes dug into the road.

Although due to pack up on Friday, November 6, the water company is still working on the road and is not due to leave for another week.

Shopkeeper Pauqueer Hamid told the Harrow Times that it has caused a number of buses to be diverted and that it is having an impact on trade.

He said: “They said it would be finished by now but it is not – they are still diverting buses and less people are coming in to shop now.

“I keep asking what is going on and when it will be finished but I am hearing nothing.

“To let it go on for another week, or even longer, will cause even more chaos that we just don’t want here.”

Affinity Water say the repairs should be completed by Friday, November 13 and Harrow council will complete resurfacing by Tuesday, November 17.

An Affinity Water spokesperson said: “We have been working closely with the London Borough of Harrow to plan repairs for a leak on a sluice valve in College Road to coincide with resurfacing works managed by the local authority.

“Our technicians excavated the site on Monday 2 November and successfully repaired the sluice valve. However, on further investigation, our technicians identified a leak on a 14 inch main, which also required repairs.

“To repair the main, we required a unique fitting which has now been designed.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this work may have caused and would like to reassure our customers that this work is absolutely necessary.”