CHRISTCHURCH residents say they have been subjected to a rude awakening when overnight work to repair a busy road started recently.

Dorset County Council is currently carrying out carriageway resurfacing works on the B3073 along Hurn Road, Fairmile Road and Bargates for six weeks until Friday, July 15.

The council wrote to residents at the end of May warning them that “some disruption” might take place.

But Jim Biggin, chairman of West Christchurch Residents Association, said the vibrations from the equipment is so severe it is felt up to 500 yards away.

“The noise, including the reversal warning devices on the equipment in use, is so loud that sleep is impossible,” he said.

Mr Biggin said that after the intervention of ward councillor Sue Spittle and officers from Christchurch council, work stopped at midnight from June 7 onwards, although he claims this was flouted on two occasions.

He added: “It does seem to us that given the complete absence of prior consultation, the wholly misleading statements made in the letter and the acute disturbance caused by the work that the council are at the very least guilty of callously ignoring the interests of local residents.”

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council said: “Following a complaint about noise on the first evening of work, Christchurch Borough Council measured the noise levels on the following evening and found them to be acceptable.

“With regards to vibrations created by the roller, our contractors have checked the equipment and ensured it is making the minimum number of passes over the road material.

“We have been doing our best to complete this work by midnight each night, which has mostly been the case.

“We are using materials with a design life of 20 years, which requires the use of a vibrating roller.

“If we used inferior materials, we may need to come back again in five to seven years.

“Unfortunately, there is a certain amount of noise using these methods, but once finished the work will result in a long-lasting road surface.”