Highways workers slated for 'waste' over road repairs in wrong place

HIGHWAYS workers have been accused of wasting money after they dumped asphalt beside a road described by locals as “the worst in Yorkshire” – without filling in the potholes

People who live in Cat Hill Lane, Hoylandswaine, Barnsley, which is riddled with potholes, said they have been calling on Barnsley Council to repair the surface for more than four years.

When a work crew arrived in the summer they thought their prayers had been answered – until the men started clearing a ditch and made no effort to fill the holes.

After two months the gang left, but as they finished they added insult to injury and dumped a tonne of asphalt on the verge beside the rutted road and rolled it out.

The patch of new road surface is several yards from the centre of the road, where no car will ever drive.

Albert Green, who lives in Cat Hill Lane, said he was flabbergasted the material had been wasted when the road was in such a poor state.

The 76-year-old retired civil engineer, said: “I have repeatedly asked the council to sort out this road, which is worse that those you would find in the Third World.

“I was told by the council that it had no money for repairs, but then a gang of men turned up and instead of doing repairs on the road they dug the ditch out.

“When I saw them arrive on the last day, I thought they were finally going to fill in the holes. But instead they laid a new surface a few yards away over some grass.

“You have to see it to believe it. When I went out to ask the workmen if they were going to fill the holes they said enough money had been spent on the road already.”

Mr Green’s neighbour, retired solicitor John Briggs, said the road had been poorly maintained for several years. He had also asked the council for help.

He added: “I would say the road outside my house is the most dangerous in Yorkshire. I am aware the council claims to have sorted out some drainage issues.

“We will now have to wait and see what the outcome of that is.”

A spokesman for Barnsley Council claimed the tarmac had been laid as “edge repairs” after the workmen damaged the edge of the road while clearing the drainage ditches.

He added: “Barnsley Council routinely inspects the borough's highways for surface defects, including potholes. Where these carriageway defects present a risk to safety, the necessary work will be programmed into the department’s schedule.”

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