LONG-RUNNING ROADWORKS SHOULD BE IN GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

15 June 2007

Coleridge Labour Councillors say that roadworks at a dangerous city junction that are several months overdue for completion should be entered in the Guinness Book of Records.

Contractors have been on site at the Radegund, Davy and Coleridge Road junction since December 2006 and are now entering their seventh month - on a job supervised by the Tory County Council linked to the Laings housing that was supposed to take 6 or 7 weeks maximum.

Coleridge Councillor Tariq Sadiq wants to enter these roadworks into the Guinness Book of Records.

He said, "Seven months must be some kind of record for what is a pretty straightforward job. If there are other roadworks that have taken longer I would be surprised, but am happy to hear of any examples."

Half-finished work and white stop lines covered with tarmac have left drivers confused about priorities and have made an already dangerous junction even worse. Pedestrian traffic islands have been removed but the crossing is still not operational making it even harder for people to cross.

Ward councillors have held two site meetings with contractors and were promised a series of different completion dates. On 12th April they were told the work would be finished in four weeks. Nearly nine weeks on frustrated and angry Coleridge residents are still waiting. Coleridge Councillors have written to the Tory County Councillors responsible, but all to no avail as each set of promises has been broken and the community continues to suffer.

Residents want these massively delayed works finally finished to improve safety for children, the elderly, cyclists and car drivers. Local residents have complained of holes being dug at the start of the week and being filled in at the end while children play with unsecured plastic barriers in the road.

"We don't want these works to see a full year out and for it to be Christmas before they are completed" said Councillor Sadiq. "They are also causing totally avoidable danger to children, pedestrians and local residents for as long as they remain unfinished. Let's hope the Tory County Council can get its act together before there's a serious injury or worse."