PARENTS are being warned to keep their children away from work being carried out on land in Crewe from this week.

Improvements totalling £300,000 are being carried out in Victoria Avenue as part of a nationwide programme of works for BG Property Division.

The site will be fenced off and 24-hour security will be present but construction manager Les Leyland is advising parents not to let their children trespass on the site.

"Deep excavations on site could pose a significant risk," he said. "Our contractors will seek to take every possible precaution but parents should be on their guard and warn their children accordingly."

The redevelopment work is set to last for eight weeks and involved the removal of underground structures and storage tanks.

The land was used for coal-based gas production in 1884 and the gasworks supplied the whole of Crewe until the 1950s.

The majority of the old gasworks site was dismantled in the 1970s and land to the west was bought by builders merchants while the 1980s saw the construction of the depot currently used by Transco.

"Every effort will be made to minimise disruption by careful working methods," added Mr Leyland.

"Some of the works may also cause localised odours which may be noticed in the immediate vicinity of the site, but these will be kept to an absolute minimum where possible, by the use of measures aimed at reducing the incidence of unpleasant smells."

The company is looking at a number of long term redevelopment options for the site.

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