Councillor brands Mancot footpath resurfacing “farcical waste of money”
Flintshire County Council has come under fire for “wasting taxpayers’ money” after pavements in Mancot were resurfaced without prior warning, leaving residents walking, cycling, and driving through wet tar.
The works, carried out earlier this week on lower Leaches Lane, have reportedly caused damage to residents’ driveways and vehicles after the freshly laid surface was disturbed before it had time to set.
Sam Swash, county councillor for Hawarden and Mancot, described the situation as a “farcical waste if money” and said the lack of communication showed “complete disregard for local people.”
He said: “It is unforgivable that residents weren’t notified in advance that resurfacing was due to take place on lower Leaches Lane. People have walked, cycled, and driven through wet tar because they weren’t aware the surface was being worked on. The surface is now seriously damaged as a result, and the Council will now no doubt have to pay to put it right – doubling the cost to taxpayers.”
“At a time when the Council’s leadership is constantly pleading poverty, hiking Council Tax, and cutting essential services, this farcical waste is unacceptable. All it would have taken to avoid this situation is basic communication and courtesy.”
Cllr Swash confirmed that he has submitted a formal complaint to the Council, demanding an explanation of how the error occurred, the cost to the taxpayer, and what measures will be introduced to prevent a repeat.
“Residents deserve answers, and they rightly expect a basic level of competence and communication. Instead, they’ve faced completely avoidable disruption, damage, and expense,” he added.
Chief officer for Streetscene and Transportation, Katie Wilby, said: “The work along Leaches Lane forms part of Flintshire County Council’s footway reconstruction programme, and continues on from improvements earlier this year along Hawarden Way.
“The surface was treated with a slurry seal – a preventative maintenance treatment designed to remove small defects and extend the life of the footway. It was carried out by Flintshire’s appointed contractor, who is responsible for the correct application of the material and for ensuring the footway remains closed until the surface has fully dried. Unfortunately, this section was disturbed before the material had properly set.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this has caused and recognise residents’ frustrations. The Council has instructed the contractor to implement tighter control measures to prevent a repeat of this issue, including closer on-site supervision, longer curing periods and clearer communication with residents ahead of future works.
“Any remedial works required will be carried out by the contractor at no additional cost to the Council. We will monitor the footway to ensure it is restored to the expected standard.”
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