Contractors ditch road resurfacing work on day two

So far, the top layer of tarmac in Ensbury Park Road in Bournemouth has been removed along some with grid work.  

But it’s believed Essex-based contractors discovered pipes at the Wimborne Road end and decided the job was not for them. 

Residents are now left wondering how long it will be until the work is complete, with some of their vehicles trapped in driveways until the work finishes.

Tradesman Martin Thompson said he has taken a week off work for the resurfacing work while his van is parked in another street elsewhere. 

He said: “It’s like being in lockdown again it’s so quiet. I’ve taken a week off work for them to do a bodged job... they’re not going to do a proper job. 

“It looks like the contractors have hit problems and refuse to go any further. I hope [the council] has not paid them for a full job; resurfacing isn’t a £10k job, it’ll cost a lot more than that.” 

Resident Lin Grocott said: “They took the top off on Monday, Tuesday it was raining and the next day nobody showed up. 

“The road is now empty and nobody can get their cars in or out of the road. I can’t get my grandson’s pushchair down the road now. 

“Apparently, the workmen got to the end of the road and discovered there were pipes there and that surveys were not done properly beforehand so they left.” 

Father-of-two David Simon added: “I noticed work had stopped earlier. We got a letter for the work but after that, nothing to say the contractors had left. 

“I saw them clearing up on Tuesday. I’ve had to park my van quite far away, so it’s going to be quite difficult for us.” 

The contractors were supposed to churn up 200mm of tarmac before recycling it, mixing it with cement and then resurfacing the road with the mix.

Council sub-contractors remain on-site clearing up and helping direct pedestrians and cars.

Cllr Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for environment and energy, said he expects the road resurfacing to be completed on time.

He said: “A thorough site investigation was carried out by an independent team of specialists and our current contractors.

“As part of this pre-assessment, all necessary steps were taken to establish the location of underground utility pipes, which although positioned nearer the surface than normal due to the age of the road, were considered deep enough not to be affected. Once work began, this issue was found to be worse than expected in some places.

“Because of the shallow depth of the pipes, their age and fragility, the risk of breaking them during our planned work was assessed to be too high and could cause more damage and disruption if continued.

“Residents living on Ensbury Park Road were notified of this work in advance, and there remains no change to the current traffic management arrangements or parking restrictions.

“This work is part of BCP Council’s Highways Structural Maintenance Programme, funded by the Department for Transport.”

BCP Council was asked if new contractors had been found.