Dismay over roadworks outside Hereford man’s home

Thomas Howells complained about the footpath in front of his home in Beattie Avenue.

But the contractor involved has questioned whether its team was responsible.

Mr Howells had received a letter from J Harper & Sons on September 20 that said preparation works to the road and footpaths would take place on Monday, September 26.

It also said it would take about two days, and a tarmac contractor would then finish the works.

But it, and the lack of highways signage, failed to mention any raised ironworks, he said.

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Stones and chippings going into the drainage grates between his driveway and the pavement. Picture: Thomas Howells

The footpaths on the street have been partly finished but the pavement in front of Mr Howells' home has been left in what he says is an "appalling state".

The new tarmac to the left has been finished just before his driveway but is laid at an angle from one of the dropped curb slabs on his driveway.

"The pathway in front is torn up and looks a similar state to that of the road which is currently awaiting a fresh layer of tarmac.

"It is looking extremely untidy and uneven," he said.

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Mr Howells thinks it may be due to heavy pieces of equipment he noticed the tarmac team hauling back and forth.

This has led to stones and chippings going into the drainage grates between his driveway and the pavement, he said.

He says he has tried to contact the project manager and the site manager but had been unsuccessful.

A spokesperson for the Harper group said the footpath in front of Mr Howells' house was well outside the site boundary and beyond its original remit of works.

"The extent and nature of the repairs are agreed with Herefordshire Highways as we follow their instruction here and, in this instance, we have simply carried out what has been instructed and since signed off," said the spokesperson.

"Secondly, much of the access road in that area is in a poor state of repair and looks like it's been that way for some time. We will, however, investigate this and pull out the dilapidation schedule we took before commencing any works on site.

"If it turns out that we have caused damage as a direct result of our works we will, off course, have to consider some remedial works, but I can only establish that once I look into the survey."

Staff will be looking further into the case in the coming weeks, said the spokesperson.