'Put our paving stones back': call to end 'patchwork quilt' of footpath repairs by utility companies in Lancashire

There are calls for action against utility companies that dig up Lancashire’s stone pavements during roadworks – and then fail to replace the flags they removed.

Councillors in West Lancashire have highlighted half a dozen streets where tar has instead been used to fill in the holes – creating what one resident described as a “patchwork quilt” effect in what was previously pristine paving.

The likes of gas, electricity, water and telecoms firms are bound by national rules designed to ensure any roads they have to excavate are restored to an appropriate standard – which means matching replacement surfaces to their surroundings wherever reasonably practical.

‘Interim’ repairs that fall short of that standard are permitted for a period of up to six months, but should then be made compliant and permanent.

However, County Cllr Gordon Johnson, a member of the Our West Lancashire (OWL) group on Lancashire County Council, says companies carrying out work in Ormskirk are “often getting away with a quick black tar job and leaving town never to return”.

He said he had flagged examples of the problem – on Railway Road, Moor Street, Moorgate, Aughton Street, Church Street and Burscough Street – with highway bosses at County Hall, but that nothing was being done to punish utility firms over poor pavement repairs.

“They acknowledged that they had the power to fine companies that did not complete permanent reinstatements, but had not done so,” said County Cllr Johnston, who represents the Ormskirk division.

In the case of the Moor Street repair, OWL says the tar has now been in place for more than a year after a job undertaken by Electricity North West.

Local resident Steve Kyriacou said: “Ormskirk town centre is a mess of a patchwork quilt. Service providers dig up expensive paving, with little or no concern for the consequences, and slap tar in – leaving an untidy and unkempt appearance in the main shopping area.

“No-one in charge at the county council seems to care. Removing perfectly good block paving and replacing [it] with ugly tar is akin to theft and should be investigated by the authorities to bring those responsible to account.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council told the Lancashire Post: “We recognise that residents want to see permanent repairs completed as quickly as possible following utility works in Ormskirk town centre.

“Utility companies are responsible for reinstating the highway after carrying out works. Lancashire County Council monitors works on the highway network and works with utility companies to ensure repairs are completed to the required standard.

“Where repairs remain outstanding, we will continue to work with the utility companies responsible to get them completed.”

Responding to the criticism of the repairs to its former works site on Moor Street, a spokesperson for SP Electricity North West said: “The permanent reinstatement on Moor Street is scheduled to take place on 2nd November and has already been agreed with the local authority.

“We’re working with our contractors to understand the reason for the delay and would like to apologise to residents for the time it has taken to resolve this work.”