Assurance on ‘botched’ roadworks in Cupar

A CUPAR councillor has been assured botched pavement improvement works that left part of the town resembling a “warzone” will be completed this week.

SNP member Karen Marjoram told The Courier she had been personally assured remedial works in the Newtown and Bishopgate areas will be rectified following complaints to herself and North East Fife MSP Rod Campbell.

Newtown is in a conservation area, and was getting six replacement street lights put in – however, residents have highlighted a catalogue of errors, including:

Replacement kerbs not going in a straight line

Damaged drains, including a tarred over drain cover that’s left rainwater nowhere to go.

At least one drain is now, apparently, leaking sewage.

Contractors have ‘randomly’ put in a dropped kerb without planning permission.

The surface of the newly tarred pavement is now uneven in numerous places, and has dips which could cause people to trip.

Some of the dips in the surface are directly outside front doors, which will collect water and become slip hazards in the winter.

Areas around metal services covers are now either raised or dipped, rather than flush with the surface, again a walking hazard.

The part of the pavement that was cobbles has been re-laid very poorly, and some of the blocks now wobble (another trip hazard).

The level of the new pavement has in some houses covered the wall vents, and others caused the water run-off into the air vents, and therefore into the houses.

They have caused the concrete door lintels in at least one house to become cracked.

They have caused the glass to crack in one front door.

They have caused the pebble dash harling to come off a number of houses at ground level.

They have broken numerous rone pipes away from the walls, thus meaning that the rain doesn’t go down the drains anymore.

The previous set up had street lights on both sides of the street, however the new set up has them along the west side only, meaning that it is less safe for people in the dark, especially as the surface is now uneven.

Councillor Marjoram said: “The residents have got together and contacted the council and have had the relevant officers visit.

“The officers have been up and added more items to the ‘snagging list’mentioned.

“Councillor David Mcdiarmid also had a similar problem with a team in Freuchie that were replacing lights recently, so this is not an isolated case.

“The householders want an apology from the council for the mess, and want it put right as soon as possible.

“The residents are also considering getting in contact with Historic Scotland as the street is listed, and they feel it has been made less attractive as a result of the work done.

“I have been personally assured by Fife Council officers that remedial works will begin this week to rectify the long list of issues raised.”

Fife Council service manager Mark Dewar said: ”following our recent footway and street lighting works in the Newtown area we have received a number of complaints.

“We are aware of many of the issues that require further attention and work will be done over the next few weeks to bring the area up to a high standard of finish.

“At all times we aim to carry out our work to the highest standards with minimum disruption and we have written to the residents to apologise for any inconvenience our work may have caused.

“Work is continuing in the Bishopgate area and is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.

“In the meantime, we would ask residents to bear with us and we will again attempt to keep disruption to a minimum.”

The footway works at Bishopgate in Cupar.