Roadworks return Apology as surface dug up once again
GSome people said it wouldn’t be long before the road was dug up again and, unfortunately, they were right. It’s ridiculous that it couldn’t have been done at the same time
LOUCESTERSHIRE County Council has apologised to residents after a road was dug up again, just weeks after it resurfaced it.
Stoke Road is a busy route between Bishop’s Cleeve and Stoke Orchard near Cheltenham and many drivers were pleased to see it being resurfaced in August, although the work did cause access issues for some residents.
But they were then bemused and annoyed to see part of the road being dug up again, close to Spitfire Homes’ new Fairmont housing development, soon after the council’s work had finished.
More waiting at traffic lights, where a sign says the work is due to continue until October 28, was not what people wanted.
One Stoke Orchard resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It was said that the road was only resurfaced because of the Tour of Britain cycle race coming to the area.
“It needed doing although it was a pain because of the restricted access for some residents.
“Some people said it wouldn’t be long before the road was dug up again and, unfortunately, they were right.
“It’s ridiculous that it couldn’t have been done at the same time.”
Councillor Dom Morris, the county council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “The work in Stoke Road is being led by developers to install a high voltage cable connection to the new housing development.
“I am disappointed that the utility company working on behalf of the developer was unable to complete this work before we resurfaced the road in August.
“We appreciate how frustrating this will be for the local community to have to cope with further disruption and to have a freshly repaired road immediately dug up and patched by the developer.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents.”
Spitfire Homes declined to comment.