Council Tarmac gang resurfaces MP’s drive for free - ‘but it’s all above board’

Graham Stuart’s wife Anne chanced upon the workmen as they were repairing Hengate in Beverley, and invited them to lay any spare asphalt on Seven Corners Lane, an exclusive, narrow walled road half-a-mile away, where the couple live in their detached bespoke villa, Hornbeam Lodge.

In a remarkable display of efficiency not always associated with council contractors, by the time Mrs Stuart returned home the work had been done, and the cinder track, which had been there for as long as residents can remember, had disappeared beneath a layer of the black stuff.

The new surface runs from the North Bar Without entrance of Seven Corners Lane to a few yards short of the Stuarts’ property, while it is still very much business as usual for residents at the other end of the lane, which exits onto York Road.

Mr Stuart insists it was all above board and praised his wife’s “inspiration”, but the work has angered some Beverlonians – who would like to have seen pot holes repaired on busier roads – and has prompted questions from the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

Andrew Allison, national grassroots co-ordinator at the alliance, said: “It’s clearly for his benefit; nobody benefits around the corner.

“I think he’s been silly with the MPs’ expenses scandal still fresh in people’s minds. It looks like an MP cashing in on his status. If they’d had a bit more it would have gone right to his door.”

Mr Stuart, who bought the plot for £500,000 and is thought to have spent £700,000 having the property built, said he and his family were not the only ones to benefit as the lane is used by walkers and the Beverley and East Riding Lawn Tennis Club next door.

The Beverley and Holderness Conservative MP said in a statement: “My wife saw the road workers on Hengate and told a workman that if they had any spare Tarmac they would be welcome to put it in the potholes of Seven Corners Lane. The workman said that they ‘might’, as it could cost the company money if they had to dump it.

“My wife cycled off and on returning home was delighted to see that they had laid a path of Tarmac on the worst stretch of the lane. At no point did my wife identify herself to the workmen, give her name or mention who she was married to.

“I’m pleased my wife had the inspiration to ask and am glad it suited the company to dispose of its excess material in this environmentally friendly way. At no cost to anyone it will now help residents, walkers and members of the tennis club who all use Seven Corners Lane.”

A resident of Seven Corners Lane has complained to the East Riding Council contractors, Galliford Try, believing the asphalt is unsuitable in a conservation area.

The company has now written to all residents of the lane inviting their views, but the MP is not without support.

His next-door neighbour RB Booth, 91, a retired surgeon, said yesterday: “It (the road) was in a terrible state and I’m pleased it’s been done. Some people are protesting about it but I just accepted it.”

The company said in a statement: “At the end of a session of resurfacing works on Hengate last Sunday we were left with the remnants of blacktop material. We had made a prior arrangement with a farmer to deposit the material with him for use on farm tracks.

“On the day, however, we were approached by a resident who asked if we could lay the blacktop down nearby Seven Corners Lane, a rough, unadopted road on which she lives.

“We agreed to do so since it seemed to be an expedient and environmentally friendly way of dealing with the excess material.

“The job was carried out purely out of goodwill and without any money changing hands.”