A SHOPOWNER has considered leaving Salisbury as another disruption to trade spells continued suffering for his business.
Fisherton Street closed around lunchtime on Saturday, April 20, after a member of the public reported a smell of gas near the entrance from South Western Road.
Fire engines rushed to the scene and pedestrians were stopped from walking down the street.
SGN engineers carried out an investigation and decided to close the road to all motorists until "the middle" of this week.
A spokesperson for SGN said it had liaised with Wiltshire Council and its engineers will work throughout the night on Monday evening, April 22.
Milestone workers, the contractors carrying out the Fisherton Gateway Project, told the Journal the gas leak was nothing to do with the work they were doing further up the street.
Businesses remained open for the duration of the emergency response but one man said his shop continues so suffer.
Read live coverage: Fisherton Street closed for days after gas escape
Michael Higginson, has owned Marley's Headshop for eight and a half years but has seen trade drop by 40 per cent since the Fisherton Gateway Project began.
The 48-year-old was working on Saturday when he saw fire engines swarm the street at around 1.15pm.
"I thought the fire brigade was here for a fire. I didn't even know what was going on," he said.
Soon afterwards, SGN engineers arrived on the scene to investigate cause of the smell.
Mr Higginson reportedly spoke to one engineer who said he was "surprised" anyone could smell the gas as it was so slight.
Drivers were diverted down Dews Road, along West Street and into North Street but further disruption ensued after a lorry driver got stuck on the narrow street.
See more: Lorry stuck on Dews Street trying to avoid Fisherton Street closure
The SGN spokesperson added: "Our engineers identified a gas escape in the middle of the carriageway of Fisherton Street. To enable us to carry our emergency repairs safely, the road is closed westbound at the roundabout of Dew Road and South Western Road. A signed diversion route is in place for motorists.
"We know this is a busy area and want to apologise for the disruption this is causing.
"All being well, we hope to have completed our emergency work, reinstated the road surface, and have the road fully re-opened by the middle of the week."
After seeing the road had been closed to pedestrians, Mr Higginson thought about closing up shop for the day as he is heavily reliant on footfall.
He added: "We think it is bad enough with all the work. I have never seen anything like it. I’m a builder and watching these boys do the footpath was soul-destroying."
Mr Higginson has been prompted by his landlord to renew his lease on the property but he's having second thoughts as the project has been delayed.
Read also: More sections of Fisherton Gateway Project completed, says council
Mr Higginson considered moving to Andover instead, he said: “I was thinking of closing the shop six months ago. Take-ins have dropped and my bills have gone up.
“There’s just nobody. People were walking up and down all day long but it’s a ghost town now. My shop has suffered for over a year."
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