TEMPORARY traffic lights are being removed from a town centre after months of roadworks.

The removal of the lights is due to coincide with the reopening of Court Street, in Upton, today [Friday].

Gas firm Cadent is carrying out pipe replacement work in Upton at the same time as a flood alleviation project on the nearby A4104.

A spokesman for Cadent said: "Work on installing a new gas main in Court Street to improve gas pressure for homes and businesses in the area is nearly finished.

"Court Street is due to reopen on Friday and the temporary traffic lights at the junction of Old Street, High Street, New Street and Court Street will come down on Friday too.

“We will then be replacing a 70 metre section of old iron mains in High Street, from the junction of New Street to the junction of Church Street. No temporary traffic lights or other traffic management will be needed for this section.

“Towards the end of next week, we will be replacing the gas main from the junction of Church Street towards Waterside, with the aim of completing the work in time for the start of the Folk Festival on 4 May.

"To do this safely there will need to be temporary traffic lights at the junction of Church Street and High Street and a possible road closure in Dunns Lane at the end of next week, over the weekend and early into the following week while we finish this section.

“We are doing our best to complete the work as soon as possible and we would like to thank people for bearing with us. The local residents and businesses have been fantastic.”

Cadent had to stop work in the town centre at the start of this month, due to the risk of flooding in Hanley Road.

Contractors filled in the excavation and took down the temporary lights as a precaution against congestion, in case Hanley Road flooded.

They carried out work in Backfields Lane during this period.

The overall project is due to be finished by the end of April.