Stratford roadworks ‘hell’ – letter suggests county should consider compensation payments
COMPENSATION should be paid to residents whose lives have been made hell by the roadworks on Evesham Road, Stratford, according to a group of Lib Dem councillors.
They have sent an open letter asking Warwickshire County Council (WCC) to consider making amends to the residents whose lives have been severely disrupted by the work to install a new roundabout that will link Evesham Road to a new housing estate.
The five councillors all have wards affected by the work, which has dragged on for two years.
The letter was sent to Cllr Jan Matecki (Con), portfolio holder for transport and planning at WCC on 5th August and included a number of questions the councillors would like answered as part of their support for residents.
WCC representatives were given a full rundown of the impact the roadworks have had on lives of residents at a meeting on Monday, 31st July. About 130 angry people attended the meeting at Stratford Racecourse where the subjects of compensation and accountability were raised from the floor.
Cllr David Curtis, who represents Shottery ward at Stratford District Council, attended the meeting. This week he told the Herald: “The residents are really frustrated and angry.
“Proving a direct link between the roadworks and any compensation for residents is difficult but we as councillors must act in their best interests and ask the county council to consider compensation and penalty clauses against the sub-contractors.”
Work, which started in February 2022, has been delayed a number of times because of complications with a culvert for Shottery Brook. However, there is still no firm end date in sight and residents are having to live with noise and vibrations, queuing traffic outside their homes and safety issues getting into and out of their driveways.
The letter states: “At the meeting residents reiterated that poor management of this project has caused: damage to properties, prolonged loss of amenity, (residents unable to enjoy their gardens for over a year due to excessive noise and dust), distress and alarm caused by contractors on their property without permission, loss of broadband connection causing potential loss of income and access to emergency services and residents unable to leave their homes due to construction work.
“As the elected representatives on the relevant town, district and county councils, we are asking you, as the portfolio holder responsible, to secure compensation for residents affected by the above. This would partially acknowledge the chaos and hardships caused by this project.
“Residents are not to blame for the poor delivery and the impact on their wellbeing, quality of life and quiet enjoyment of their homes.”
Warwickshire County Council this week pointed out that there was no mechanism for compensating for inconvenience or disruption caused by the construction works.
The Bordon Hill roundabout works were complex and there had been unavoidable delays due to heavy rain, flooding and the need to divert unknown utilities, a council spokesperson said.
“We acknowledge that the works have extended longer than were originally planned and apologise to residents, businesses and the travelling public for the disruption and inconvenience in this area of Stratford,” the spokesperson added.
“We are actively working with all partners involved in the scheme, including the contractor, to mitigate any risks that may cause further delay and ensure that the works are completed as soon as possible. We will communicate with councillors, businesses and residents affected, as the scheme progresses, to provide updates on timescale throughout the remainder of the works.”
