When Severn Trent Water announced its work to replace pipes would close a major Gloucestershire road for five months traders and residents united against the plans.

It was December last year when the private utility company revealed its £3 million scheme to install new pipes on the B4215 Gloucester to Newent road from February to July.

Businesses, including Triospace Garden Centre, said the closure of such an important trade artery could ruin them and together with concerned residents called a meeting for tonight in Newent.

First on the list of invites was the water company itself, but the firm then decided to announce it had cancelled the meeting as it re-assed its plans.

In a statement from the firm read out on the Mark Cummings BBC Radio Gloucestershire show this morning Severn Trent said: "Following a stakeholder meeting held with Mark Harper, MP, last week we decided to postpone our meeting to review our plans for the project as soon as we have a new date we will share it with the local community."

Business people and residents - who signed a petition against the project of more than 1,000 signatures - remain unimpressed at what they see as a lack of communication and the meeting will go ahead this evening anyway - at Newent Memorial Hall at 7pm.

Gareth Mead from Severn Trent said the decision to close the road had not been taken lightly but was essential for the safety of the teams carrying out the work as well as pedestrian and road users.

The company plans to replace old cast iron water pipes to safeguard future supplies for people in the area.