ELECTRICAL work on the new Upper Brook Street surgery will disrupt a Winchester shopping centre, according to its director.

Workers have closed one lane on Friarsgate while a heavy-duty electrical cable is installed to connect the surgery to the main power grid.

The road closure was put into effect on June 28 while Eclipse Power Networks carry out part of the work, with all lanes expected to reopen on July 2 at around 11.59pm.

However, Simon Turpin, director and asset manager at The Brooks Centre, says that the work will impact the shopping centre and its tenants.

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Mr Turpin said that the developers of the St Clements Surgery will have to connect the building to the power grid at a point outside of Iceland, in Middle Brook Street, and that the work will cause disruption on Friarsgate and Upper Brook Street as well.

Part of the work will also involve the closing of the Brooks loading bay so the cable can be run underneath it.

He told the Chronicle that a lot of heavy goods vehicles use the yard to unload products for tenants including Primark and Sports Direct. However, with the closing of the yard for the electrical work, shops might begin to face issues with stock.

He continued: “With this change in weather, it has a huge impact on sales volumes. Not to mention we have the football at the weekend and the election at the weekend. When the weather changes, people end up going out and buy new clothes.

“We will have to change how we get deliveries.”

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The work will also see the Brooks Centre underground car park closed as well for a short time, as the developers move to install different parts of the cable.

Mr Turpin continued: “It could cause bedlam. They are talking about doing some of the work overnight, but then we get issues about noise.”

He added that the Brooks Shopping Centre has a good relationship with developers Assura, and will be working with them to ensure the electrical work is completed quickly and safely. Mr Turpin also said that the Brooks Shopping Centre team is liaising with tenants to minimise impact as much as possible.