Bryning with Warton Parish Council <pcbryningwithwarton@gmail.com>Mar 26, 2024, 10:38 AM (11 days ago) to Mark Southall, LCC,

 

I write on behalf of the Parish Council, Community Action Group ‘Warton at the Crossroads’ and residents of Bryning with Warton Parish.

In the presumption that the bulk of the Highway footpath work for the A584 Lytham Road junction Church Road, Warton is now completed? Members of the Parish Council, and members of the Community who have so far expressed a view, are not only unbelievably disappointed, if not aghast, at the absolute abysmal state and inferior quality of the results! It is hoped and prayed that some form of miraculous finishing process and snagging actions are yet to be added to the current state but of course feared this is not the case!

In the absence of any confirmation, it is unknown if any pertinent senior representative member of LCC Highways, Senior engineer etc. has yet signed off or approved these tarmac works on site but if not, the Council would urgently request that contact be made as a priority so that on site representations can be expressed on the examination of these shoddy results. It is represented that before any payment is made that the contractors should be made to dig up the debacle and an experienced contractor is commissioned to complete the work!

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It has been recounted, it looks like a visually challenged novice has attempted these works on behalf of the County Council Highways without the appropriate equipment (levels, straight lines and measuring devices), no clear job description and a job completion time schedule designed for a team many times the size.(It appears from anecdotal evidence when the immediate contractor carrying out part of the work in front of the shopping parade was queried by one of the shopkeepers, the individual admitted he had no experience of laying that type of surface!)

Observations to date:

The surface is uneven, undulates in many places and is not level! Pooling of surface water from rainfall is already apparent in several places following the recent inclement weather!

Different grades of tarmac have been used with a seemingly lower inferior grade quality in front of the shopping parade which will experience the greater footfall and use.

The distribution of grey chippings is not, remotely, evenly distributed throughout the tarmac mix! This detracts and significantly mar’s the intended visual effect and intention of its inclusion in the project.

The top surface, in several places, appears is not compacted sufficiently, or properly, which is already being negatively disturbed by pedestrian footfall.

There are already some cracks in the surface finish which raises significant query as to the base preparation and abilities of the contractor commissioned.

This is also mirrored along some edges breaking up and around some of the existing street furniture.

Seaming in places is of such an erratic nature it resembles spillage rather than a quality new refurbishment to a village centre or even part Highway renewal!

Some of the new paving has been tainted by tarmac marks left by the Contractor.

It is also noted that at least one Traffic light post is not vertical (commented on by several independent individuals).

Again, if it were ‘true’ when initially installed the foundation base does not inspire confidence for the project as a whole.

It is consensus of opinion that ‘if’ this level of finish is acceptable to Lancashire County Council, then the vast amount of money expended would have been far better invested with the Parish Council, for private commission through the regeneration scheme, rather than wasted in the unsightly mess provided by the representative Contractors for the Highways department!

Given the impact the protracted junction remodelling has had on the local community, local businesses and daily commuters this is an embarrassment if it is to remain in the current state.

RegardsMr A J WoodClerk to the CouncilBryning with Warton Parish Council

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cc Rina Houseby LCC, County Councillor Paul Rigby, Fylde Borough Council Regeneration Officer Charlie Richards, Borough Councillors Sandra Pitman and Julie Brickles