Shoddy work criticism rejected
Instead, they blamed motorists, claiming drivers encroaching on hatched areas were responsible for causing problems.
One driver, Darryll Puddy from Hungerford, said: “I’m sure I won’t be the only person using this stretch of the A4 who has noticed that the resurfacing carried out last summer is falling apart.
“Not only is the road littered on each side and in the hatched areas with gravel, causing stone chips to damage vehicles, but the new asphalt laid last year is already showing bare patches.
“My vehicle has been damaged three times and, having made three reports and complaints since last November to West Berkshire Street Care suggesting the gravel be swept, nothing has changed.”
Mr Puddy added: “It appears that West Berkshire Council has not only paid a contractor ratepayers’ money to resurface a considerable stretch of road inadequately, but it seems unwilling or unable to sweep up the debris, which compounds the problem.”
He went on: “With regard to the value that ratepayers and road users have been given by this shoddy piece of work I would be interested to know if the council believes the money was spent wisely.”
West Berkshire Council spokesman Keith Ulyatt responded on behalf of the highways department: “Following resurfacing, stone chippings do bed down as traffic drives over them.
“The exception would be hatched areas on which motorists should not be driving anyway. What can happen is that motorists do drive on hatched areas, possibly in overtaking, scattering chippings onto the rest of the carriageway.
“We would urge them not drive on hatched areas. The carriageway is routinely swept following resurfacing but inevitably there are going to be some loose chippings and drivers are asked to drive more slowly.”
He added: “If any work by contractors is found to be sub-standard, they will need to re-do the work at no addional cost to the taxpayer.”