Four utility companies are set to work together to “minimise disruption” on a main road through a west Suffolk town.

But despite the co-operation, a five-day road closure and a 40-mile diversion is set to take place in Clare – with concern for businesses.

Gas company Cadent, formerly National Grid, has arranged for connection work by four utilities to be delivered together, starting on August 29.

Cadent’s work is due to last one day out of a five day projected road closure of the A1092 Cavendish Road, at the junction of Church Street.

Andrew Stone, Cadent operations manager, said: “As we applied to do our work first we’ve been leading the negotiations with the council to agree dates even though our work is expected to last just one day.

“Unfortunately there’s no other way to do the work but to close the road which we realise will cause disruption.

“We’ve worked closely with the council to find a date which will minimise the disruption caused by the closure and having all the utilities do their work over five days makes sense as it will get work out of the way in one fell swoop.”

The work will connect new properties in Clare to gas, electric, water and telephone services. Bus routes will also have to be diverted.

Graham Thornton, chairman of the Clare Business Association and owner of Honeyhill Cafe, said: “Any closure on that road is going to cause disruption and affect businesses in the town.

“It is the main arterial road through the town.

“We have been open a year and have never experienced a closure, so we are not sure how much it will affect us.”

A date has been pencilled in for all the connections work to be carried out between Tuesday August 29 and Saturday September 2.

This time was selected as the roads are generally quieter in this period because it is still the school summer holidays.

Local residents are invited to a meeting in Clare Town Hall at 6pm on Tuesday August 15, where information will be available about the works from all the utility companies.

The other work will be carried out by British Telecom, Anglian Water and UK Power Networks to connect telephone, water and sewage and electricity services.