THE despair felt by Gargrave residents and traders with the impending closure of the busy A65 is deepening.

Last week the Herald revealed that Lancashire County Council's Highway Consultancy was preparing an extensive road maintenance scheme through Gargrave between Anchor Bridge and the Johnson and Johnson factory.

The work is due to be carried out between Easter and the Spring Bank Holiday and traffic will be diverted along the A59 and the notorious A682 Gisburn to Long Preston road.

But at an emergency meeting called on Monday to discuss how the closure of the road would affect residents and traders, it emerged the situation was even more desperate.

It was revealed that on top of the planned highways work, Yorkshire Water was planning to dig up the road while it carried out improvements to the water mains in the village as part of an on-going investment programme.

It said the work to reline or clean the pipes would inevitably have an impact on the community.

The company estimated work would begin at the end of February and continue until the end of the year.

Yorkshire Water's communications advisor Clare Deacon told the Herald the water company would liaise with the Highways Agency so that any work could be done either before the roadworks, or at the same time.

The matter will be discussed at a pre-arranged meeting between the water company, councillors and parish councillors at Coniston Hall Hotel on Tuesday.

Mike Hartell-Payne, of the Dalesman Caf, added that other work was also planned in the village - Sustrans was working on a cycle route, North Yorkshire Highways was looking at lowering the kerbs, and work was also to be carried out on the river wall and replacement surface water drains.

Coun Colin Pickles said he had been making inquiries about possible compensation, but the news was not good.

"It is unlikely that you could get any compensation from the Highways Agency, but you could try to get business rates reduced," he reported.

He added the Highways Agency was to hold an exhibition in the village hall at a later date to inform residents of their plans.

Meanwhile Coun David Crawford said: "I have spoken at length to MP David Curry and there is an outside chance that the date of the roadworks could be put back to the autumn if that date is preferred. But I need to know soon."

Linda Hartell-Payne, who had called the meeting, said feedback from residents suggested traders should make that decision as their livelihoods were at risk.

She is, therefore, to call a further meeting between business owners to find out what the majority feels.

In addition, responses from outlying villages will also be welcomed.

Mrs Hartell-Payne is asking all responses to be made to either the Dalesman Caf, or via e-mail to Rebecca Roberts at Ewe Tree. Her address is info@ewetree.co.uk