‘Do it again’ demand for ‘shoddy’ pavement work
ANGRY residents are demanding that ‘shoddy’ resurfacing work carried out in a Stockport conservation area is completely redone.
Sixty nine people in Beech Road, Cale Green, have signed a petition calling for the council to complete the overhaul of its pavement to a better standard.
It was presented by ward councillor Dickie Davies at the latest meeting of the Central Stockport area committee.
Coun Davies also read a statement from resident Sarah Cooper, who organised the petition, regarding the ‘poor standard of resurfacing’ in Beech Road.
It read: “We believe, as we are in the same conservation area and council tax bracket as Heath Crescent, we should receive an equivalent upgrade to our pavements. Especially when the same superior level of renovation has been afforded to roads outside the conservation area boundary - Ashfield Road and Frewland Avenue among others.”
Ms Cooper argues that Beech Road should be a ‘showcase road’ for Cale Green Conservation Area given its entrances to Hulme Hall Grammar School and Stockport Cricket and Lacrosse club.
It is also a ‘busy thoroughfare’ to local parks and shops.
And she claims that, contrary to an email from the council, the resurfacing of Beech Road is ‘neither consistent nor fair’ when compared to that on Heath Crescent.’
And while she accepts that the work uses a nationally recognised treatment, it has become apparent residents elsewhere have been dissatisfied with the result.
“The resurfacing applied to Beech Road and Adswood Lane West is poorly executed and nothing less than shoddy,” she added. The council has advised that the appearance of the new surface should improve - but remedial work could be carried out to sections that continue to look unsightly.
But Ms Cooper said this would simply recreate the ‘hotch-potch patchwork eyesore’ that was there in the first place.
In conclusion, her statement adds: “We would like the poor quality surface to be completely removed and reconstructed to the standard it deserves.
“It seems neither efficient nor value for money and, more importantly, undermines the defining principle of the granting of a conservation area status.”
Councillor Sheila Bailey, cabinet member for Sustainable Stockport, responded to the statement. Clearly there is a fundamental problem with the work. This has happened in other areas and they have had to come back.”
Coun Bailey added that council highways officers were liaising with the contractor about addressing the issue and discussing next steps.