Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

I'm speechless on both counts....

Two issue in this post. Mud from the HRR and the planned closure of Church Street.

HRR

Please believe me when I say that I'm not making this up. After two weeks of mud covering our roads, WC is leaping into action - an enforcement officer will be meeting a highways officer and a planning officer this morning to discuss the situation!!! Yes, honestly. That is what innumerable emails, phone calls and complaints results in. I bet that the contractor is quaking in his/her (mud covered) boots. I'll let you know what (if anything) is decided.

CHURCH STREET

I have queried why this work, with the resulting traffic chaos, can't wait a few weeks until the HRR is open. The reply from WC states 'The road closure is required for Wales & West Utilities to carry out critical gas main replacement works in the carriageway on Church Street and then to provide new connections to all the properties. These works have already been put back and cannot be delayed until later in the year when the relief road is open. We agree that the relief road would provide an ideal diversion route, however even once the relief road is open it will not be formally adopted by the Council straightaway on opening and we currently cannot legally divert traffic along an unadopted route.' As the gas main must be over fifty years old, I would have thought that it could wait another few weeks, but apparently not.