MADNESS! You bet your life it is... (From Swindon Advertiser)

MADNESS! You bet your life it is...

10:51am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

MADNESS was originally due to descend on Victoria Road tomorrow with a tribute gig at The Victoria pub, but landlord Dave Young says it has come a few days early with Swindon Council’s resurfacing works.

Dave, who runs the popular live music venue in the street, said the 10-day road closure, which came into operation on Monday, had brought its own bit of crazy to the area, ahead of the group Nuttyness playing at 8pm tomorrow.

He said: “It has definitely been madness. It’s chaos. The little side street alongside the pub, it’s one-way and there’s people driving in every direction up and down it.

“People are driving up the street the wrong way. At night time people are moving cones and doing what they want.

“People are driving both ways and it’s quite dangerous because people have been driving from where the Donkey is and up the side of the Vic and met vehicles driving the other way. I have seen a lot of vehicles doing that, including two police cars.”

Dave said he knew some of the shops had lost trade due to the works but punters were still visiting The Victoria as they could not go elsewhere locally to see such quality live bands.

The resurfacing of Victoria Road was originally planned to begin on Monday, October 1, and is part of the council’s scheduled maintenance programme.

The work had to be postponed because Victoria Road had to remain open to act as part of the diversion route while Devizes Road was shut for emergency sewer repairs, which finished last weekend.

The council said residents and local businesses were told of the closure, which is between Cross Street and Prospect Place.

A spokesman said the work was still on target.