A utility company has pledged to restore a pavement after residents were left outraged by the state it was left after recent roadworks. Those living on a stretch of Bolton Road West in Ramsbottom were alarmed pavement stones which had been removed were not put back in place after Electricity North West (ENW) seemingly completed work outside their homes.
There were also complaints that temporary traffic lights controlling vehicles during the project failed on several occasions, causing ‘chaos’ and even longer delays for motorists on one the main routes in and out of the town. After being contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the work Electricity North West said the pavement was a ‘temporary reinstatement’ and said that they were working with Bury Council towards a ‘permanent reinstatement’.
Ramsbottom councillor Gareth Staples-Jones said he was appalled at the appearance of the pavement after the work. He said: “They dug up the pavement but didn’t put the flag stones back.
“I have spoke with our lead highways engineering officer about the dire state Electricity North West have left the pavement. “Not only did their lights fail multiple occasions causing chaos, but they’ve removed paving slabs, and done a shoddy job with a bit of tarmac.
“It’s absolutely dreadful work, done for the lowest price by a company taking in hundreds of millions a year. “I want the paving slabs reinstated properly and have told our officers to say as much to ENW.”
Julie Parkes, 49, lives on the affected stretch of Bolton Road West, said: “At one point my husband saw them loading the paving stones they had dug up on to a truck and he ‘said we’ll never see them again, they’re just going to patch over it’.
“It did cause a lot of disruption, at one point we couldn’t access our property from the front as there was a big hole. “We weren’t told that it was a temporary measure so I’m relieved that they have now said they will return the pavement to its previous state.”
Another Bolton Road West resident, a 55-year-old man, said: “It looks a right mess doesn’t it? “All of us thought that was it and they were leaving it as it is.
“If they’re saying it’s temporary why go to all the trouble of finishing it like that. Why not just put the paving stones back as they were?
“People have pride in where they live around here so it has caused some upset.”
A spokesperson for Electricity North West said: “As is standard practice, this is a temporary reinstatement which allowed us to re-open both the footpathand road much quicker to reduce disruption.
“We are continuing to work with the local authorities to complete a permanent reinstatement.”
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