‘Road repairs are a complete waste of time and money if not done properly’

Potholes in Queen Street pictured before repair works.

Speaking last week Queen Street resident Nick Holt said: “The road engineers have arrived today and, as before, they’re only fixing ‘what’s on the list’ so despite us having new contractors it seems they still don’t have the autonomy to use common sense.

“This is the reason that I initially contacted you (Councillor Bill Aron) as this is a complete waste of money and time.

“The holes they’ve left will grow in the next few weeks and then they’ll be back to fix them in a few months by which time more holes will have appeared.

Some repairs have been carried out in Queen Street.

“When will someone grasp this issue and start to save taxpayers’ money?”

Mr Holt added: “So really, it’s back to where we were then; contractors who don’t have any autonomy to use common sense.

“A road in the town centre and in a conservation area that looks appalling and no real desire to instigate change or try to save taxpayers money.”

Town Councillor Richard Barker added: “According to highway officer Richard Fenwick, the new contract with Balfour Beatty would allow the contractors’ gang to use their judgement to repair what was on the ground not what was just on the schedule.

“Furthermore, it brings into question the competence of the person who schedules the work, as it appears they don’t even visit the site in advance to properly assess the work needed.

“The area shows some potholes as being repaired and smaller ones left, and some in a small area next to the repaired work.

“This in my professional experience is nothing short of gross professional negligence at the top of the county council system, starting with the portfolio holder and cascading down to senior offices and middle management who continue to show a total incompetence in spending public money.

“It is a disgrace and Lincolnshire County Council need to address this mismanagement, to protect the public purse.”

In a statement issued yesterday (Tuesday), county councillor for Horncastle and The Keals, Bill Aron, said: “Our highways manager has asked an officer to assess the situation with a view to raising another works order for the additional potholes.”