WATER company Severn Trent has responded to calls from worried traders and promised to fill in a 75m trench, which has caused traffic chaos in Rubery.

Work on the trench, intended for water and energy cables in New Road, was abruptly halted a fortnight ago when contractors found contaminated land near the site of a former petrol station.

Since then access to the shops has been hit with one trader claiming he lost 20 per cent of his weekly turnover.

"It doesn't bear thinking about what would happen if it stayed like this over Christmas," said John Horwood, the chairman of Rubery Village Business Association.

Mike Gill, owner of pharmacy MH Gill Ltd, has also seen trade plummet. "It's really hopeless leaving a row of shops like this," he said. "Traders were extremely seriously hit. I have elderly and disabled customers who normally use the service road to drive up to the shop.

"They have been unable to get access and I'm sure have gone elsewhere. This is terrible, coming on top of the unemployment at Longbridge and we don't know if we will be entitled to any compensation."

But Ian Rainy, streetworks inspector for the Highways Partnership in Bromsgrove, had good news for traders when he confirmed that the trench was set to be filled in today (Wednesday). But he could not confirm when the work would be completed.

"Severn Trent has sent soil samples away for analysis, but don't expect the results for two weeks. After filling the trench in they will aim to return early in the new year, but they are not sure whether they will be able to dig in the same place or will have to try another location.

"They will have to wait for advice from the Environment Agency on that one," he added.

The contaminated land was next to the site of the former Owens Garage, which closed 20 years ago and is now the Market Hall.