Yobs leave open manhole

Vandals are claimed to be endangering school children and the elderly in Sleaford by repeatedly damaging a manhole cover on a town centre street.
Cones and a grit bin have been dragged across to prevent people falling into the dangerously exposed manhole left by thieves in Jermyn Street, Sleaford. EMN-180709-104410001Cones and a grit bin have been dragged across to prevent people falling into the dangerously exposed manhole left by thieves in Jermyn Street, Sleaford. EMN-180709-104410001
Cones and a grit bin have been dragged across to prevent people falling into the dangerously exposed manhole left by thieves in Jermyn Street, Sleaford. EMN-180709-104410001

A resident of Jermyn Street contacted The Standard explaining that the thin metal manhole cover in the pavement between the public car park and Kesteven and Sleaford High School has apparently been targeted over the summer by yobs jumping on it until it bent and buckled.

Eventually it was so badly damaged it was on the verge of falling into the sewer hole, leaving it dangerous for children walking to school and elderly people living in Riverside Close at the end of the street.

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It was reported to the highways department at the county council and a new cast iron one put in its place last week.

But yesterday (Thursday) morning, the resident, who wished not to be named, said the new cover was missing or stolen, leaving a dangerous hole.

She said: “Someone has dragged a grit bin over the hole and put cones around it, but I just cried when I came out and found it because the council had only just fixed it.”

The matter has been reported to the council.

The local highways manager said in a statement: “The manhole cover is the responsibility of the adjacent landowner (the car park) and they have told us they will be replacing it as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have coned it off for safety.”

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A spokesman for Napier Parking, which runs the car park said: “We are awar of it. It was broken and we replaced it and it has been broken again. There were bits of it left behind. It has been taped off and we are working to get it sorted out as soon as possible.”