MORE road chaos is heading Leigh's way this summer with Wigan Road due to be shut for three months for flood prevention work in the Siddeley Street area.

And motorists are being forewarned not to use Nel Pane Lane to get from Wigan Road to Leigh town centre because of fears of major hold-ups at the Red Lion junction.

Instead they will be diverted through Tamar to the Bethel junction at Hindley Green then routed back to Dangerous Corner and Westleigh Lane.

Traders in Wigan Road have held a series of meetings with United Utilities to try to iron out a scheme which might lessen the impact of the road closure.

Chip shop proprietor Glenn Hitchen fears Westleigh's elderly will be hardest hit.

"Since the Post Office closed in October most pensioners go into Leigh, but people will be literally cut off.

"We're suggesting the job begins in July so part of the school holidays are included to cut disruption to schoolgoers but they aren't on holiday for the 12 weeks the work is expected to take.

"We've got a nightmare to look forward to.

"And with the tanks planned to go under Wigan Road will we have more problems when maintenance work is needed on them?"

And Joe Galvin at the Cost Less store explained: "We have had a couple of meetings because it seems that nobody has really thought through what problems will be caused. Most of the trade for Wigan Road businesses is passing trade, but there won't be any. Yet trying to get compensation is like trying to get blood from a stone."