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I would be asking the council to check up on the work being done and set a time limit for it. A year to lay pipes under a road is taking the p*** by any standard (even very large diameter pipes would not take that long).0
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OK. The business is a VERY large, well known household name.
Last year they constructed pipework (new) to connect two sites within the larger area, to the edge (15 feet from) what is an A-road running through. The pipework was all laid, in place and "capped", in other words it simply needs laying under the road. There is already a "Pipe bridge" under the road, a few metres from the new pipework, but, everyone "understands" the reason for these new pipes.
The road was "Supposed" to be closed for 7 months to facilitate what is basically running pipes under a single carriageway road.
In July (after this road had been closed for 4 months), it reopened for one week. This was because the same company had to "Lay pipework" under the other road (which is currently the diversion) - that is, pipework into the same site, under a different road. This work was completed in 7 DAYS. The diversion road then reopened, and in the meantime, driving along the newly reopened A road it was clear than NO work had been done to the "pipework" there - it was still "capped" and absolutely no evidence of any work on or under the road, or on the verge.
This road (after the completion of similar work in 7 days on the diversionary route) then closed again, supposedly to reopen in what was then 3 months time (30 October) - meanwhile on 27 October, it was advised that the road won't reopen until March 2016 - a full year after it closed.
It would be fair to say in some ways the local authority might be "strong armed" by this company, since they are a major employer.
This company have, in the past, lobbied to have the said A road closed - which is always knocked back.
Whether or not one could say said company would be morally obligated to "Pay" commuters for the extra fuel used, one hardly could believe that, if for example the Council (seeing as the work is in no way related to upgrading or repairing the road for instance), charged, what £1000 a day for the closure facility, that such companies would be so "Tardy" with their work.
Said company would be more than happy for this (A road) to be closed permanently and of course, having it "Shut" for a year only adds to their case.
Unfortunately it's not clear if the Council will "Press" the company but it's only a matter of time I think because already people are grumbling online at the announcement and this will only grow.
Simply - if a company which does "very similar jobs" 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day says, in a road closure application, they need 7 months to do a job which involves laying about 75 feet of pipe, that works out at 10 feet per month (even if that was believable) - for a straightforward job such as this is, one has to question why, it is now apparently needing a full year.0 -
If what you allege is true, why don't you (and the others affected) approach the LA and ask WTH is going on and demand some answers?0
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The council will have to extend the legal order for the road closure so should be aware why it is taking so long, perhaps call them and ask? The work will be carried out under section 50 of the New Roads and Street works Act 1991, the local authority are required under the traffic management act 2004 to mimise the disruption caused by roadworks and other traffic issuies.
Get onto the council and ask what's going on.0 -
Well, back when the road reopened in the summer (for the other work mentioned) at least one Councillor's Facebook page was inundated with comments from people (back then) querying the apparent lack of work and so on, on a road that had been shut for four months; put it this way, the Council know the story and know how people feel, much the same was being said three months ago and the Council's twitter feed in recent days has a few choice comments on it!
I wouldn't even waste my time contacting them as it's clearly something they already had the power to sort out, but I still don't mind irritating the company concerned!0 -
They don't need to close the road to put the pipework under it. They can use a 'mole' which creates a hole through which the pipework is then pushed prior to being linked-up to the existing run.
This is what both Anglian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water did when they wer both undertaking work to extend their respective networks to create a means of moving water from one part of the network to another.
Every time they reached a road, they would close it for 2 days to push the pipes under. The closures were to allow them to push 1.5m diameter pipes under the road without the risk of vehicles causing the 'tunnel' to cave in.
If you really want to et the Council's attention, write to them. They have to log and respond to every letter they receive within a set time limit, so encouraging everyone to write 1 letter a week will clog their system so badly, they will have no choie but to take notice.
Also worth attending when the Council has any Public meeting where the public can ask any questions they wish.
As an aside, if you have a bicycle, ride the closed road (the closure only applies to vehicles) so that should the business (go on, name them) tries the old "no one has used the road in 12 months" excuse to try to get the road permanently closed, their will be at least one person who can stand up and state "I ride the length of the road at least once every month", thus destroying their argument.Never Knowingly Understood.
Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)
3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)0 -
It is, inasmuch as they authorised the closure with the relevant order.
The latest information is on the Council Roads dept Twitter feed, which announced on the 27th, "Closure extended to March 2016" - the relevant RTO still only shows the closure until the 30th.
As an example, two comments others put to the Council on the day: "Why?" and, "What is the reason for...." - no reply. Same on FB pages and so on; basically peoples questions ignored.
And consider that delivery vehicles and service vehicles (to and from the sites) still use the road every day - and it is still "open" for emergency vehicles, there is absolutely no physical impediment to traffic on the road - and, (many, many) lots of workers vehicles still access their car parks off the road having to pass the supposed location of the work.0 -
It is, inasmuch as they authorised the closure with the relevant order.
The latest information is on the Council Roads dept Twitter feed, which announced on the 27th, "Closure extended to March 2016" - the relevant RTO still only shows the closure until the 30th.
As an example, two comments others put to the Council on the day: "Why?" and, "What is the reason for...." - no reply. Same on FB pages and so on; basically peoples questions ignored.
And consider that delivery vehicles and service vehicles (to and from the sites) still use the road every day - and it is still "open" for emergency vehicles, there is absolutely no physical impediment to traffic on the road - and, (many, many) lots of workers vehicles still access their car parks off the road having to pass the supposed location of the work.
What is the physical impediment stopping you driving down the road. Just go there in the middle of the night and move them out the way every night. They hopefully will get bored and give up. Or you will.0 -
I'd check to see if there's a better route, often when they do diversions they stick to main roads, I don't think they want people to take any short cuts.“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”
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