Roadworks blocking drive - should we have been informed?

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

All of that and you're whinging and whining about having to use the legs god gave you to walk to where your car is parked?

Some people just want their heads banging against a wall to knock some sense into them.

The biggest problem, should this happen to me, would be leaving my good car on the street. I'm in a quiet area for the most part but we do get drunk teenagers passing through from time to time, two neighbours have had their walls demolished and my old Volvo was hit all down one side by a black Mazda (it didn't stick around, I just reassembled the pieces of wing mirror that I picked up off the road).

For the Volvo half an hour with a hammer and it was sorted but I'd be gutted were that to happen to the car I actually care about.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

utilities companies cannot do as to their liking with regards to access to properties. they do not know whether the persons drive they are going to work infront of is severely disabled, a doctor/police/fireman on call, the council should have posted a notice up or even in the local rag.

Strider590

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

the council should have posted a notice up or even in the local rag.

Nobody ever reads it. That's why old folks manage to get double yellow lines painted down entire streets, nobody objects because nobody knows until the morning they wake up and find out the hard way.

h.cowell

Thanks for all the comments

masterlumps wrote: »

what i dont understand is what difference it would have made if you had been given notice?

In my own case, I have a child at Primary School and need to know that I can get off the drive at certain times of the day.

There are at least 2 people who are registered as disabled along our street, one elderly lady and two families with very young children. All of these people (and others) would need to make arrangements. The works begins at 8am, before most people have gone out for the day.

Lum wrote: »

The biggest problem, should this happen to me, would be leaving my good car on the street.

I feel the same! I also don't want to upset other residents by parking outside their house (some people don't tolerate that kind of thing very well).

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

utilities companies cannot do as to their liking with regards to access to properties.

They certainly behave like they can! While most of the work men have been ok/helpful with me, one was very rude to a neighbour of mine who was concerned about taking her car off the drive before work began. Obviously it's wasn't his concern!

Strider590 wrote: »

Nobody ever reads it <the local rag>

I do read the local paper but must have missed the notice that no doubt went in there. There were some road signs giving expected dates for the work, but no indication of the type of work/disruption etc.

On the otherhand, where my dad lives there were major roadworks a few months back and all residents got regular updates in the form of flyers, indicating when utilities would be disconnected, or access would be restricted... that kind of thing. Everything (as far as I know) went smoothly because there was a lot of communication. In our case, I've heard of several complaints made by residents already.

Since this *is* a money saving site, wouldn't it make sense to do the work quickly and efficiently (including good communication), even if that meant paying for work outside of normal hours (within reason of course)? Rather than the prolonged work that has taken place so far, with 2 weeks off over Easter, and working days that seem to end at 2.30pm. The work was apparently due to be finished 10th May but that has been extended till 27th May, and possibly incurred fines.

A couple of photos, so you know what we're dealing with!



Entrance to our drive, yesterday...

vikingaero

If the contractor gave you notice then you could have made arrangements. I can't understand the belligerent attitude of some posters on here. Even in an emergency, it takes a minute for the contractor to knock on the door. Obviously some utilities don't give a monkeys.

System

h.cowell wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments

.....

A couple of photos, so you know what we're dealing with!

Entrance to our drive, yesterday...

Keep a close eye on your wall, gate posts and fence. The contractors are taking liberties by standing the barriers on your drive, and they are leaning the barriers against your wall, if they cause any damage, they would be liable for the repairs.

One other thing, I cannot see any lights on the barriers, do they put flashing beacons on the barriers at night ?

Kilty_2

ROY47 wrote: »

that's normally because the gas board slightly damage the electric cable / water main and say nothing until it goes bang or leaks

Also because only one utility can work in a street at a time and they must reinstate the area before another can start :eek: (unless they fck up like you say)

So gas pipes replaced, hole filled in as good as new, electricity come and dig it all up again....

asbokid

an old man who worked his whole life on the continent told me how sensible the utility companies are in the low countries. in many towns, services are run in properly constructed conduits along the roadside, so there are hardly any roadworks. here, and the services are laid in mud in the middle of the road and cause maximum disruption when they fail, often from the weight of vehicles.