Road is dug up just days after surfacing

Road is dug up just days after surfacing

11 January 2012 - by DAVID TELFORD

WORKMEN have dug up Edward Street in Downpatrick just weeks after the completion of a major resurfacing scheme.

Contractors working on behalf of Northern Ireland Water tore up part of the street last Sunday morning to connect a new watermain to a house.

The move has angered residents and a local politician who says it “beggars belief” the road could be dug up so soon after it was resurfaced.

Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe has called on NI Water to publicly explain why the work in Edward Street was not carried out before resurfacing started, claiming the request for the new watermain was submitted by the local resident four years ago.

He claimed the same resident also recently contacted NI Water to inform the organisation that resurfacing work was due to start.

“During the resurfacing work, concerns were raised by residents regarding the possibility of work being carried out by NI Water after its completion,” the councillor revealed.

“Contact was made with NI Water and I was assured that all necessary work would be carried out prior to resurfacing . However, last Sunday morning, workmen dug up the road to lay a watermain.”

Councillor Mac Con Midhe issued a reminder that last November, just weeks after the completion of a £3m street regeneration scheme in Scotch Street in the town, workmen began digging it up following a blunder by NI Water over a new watermain.

He continued: “Who will be held accountable for what has happened in Edward Street and how much did this work cost? If something like this happened within the private sector, someone would be held to account. This does not appear to be the case within NI Water.

A NI Water spokeswoman confirmed work to replace a lead pipe was carried out at Edward Street last Sunday, with the request for the work received on December 5 last year. She said the work was carried out with the necessary approvals through Roads Service/ Utilities arrangements.

“NI Water endeavours to co-ordinate work with other planned work in the area at the time. However, this is not always possible. A final reinstatement of the surface is planned for January 18,” the spokeswoman added.