Last updated at 17:17, Wednesday, 10 March 2010

LABOUR heavyweights have steamrollered in to demand better co-ordination of the roadworks blighting Barrow town centre.

Retiring MP John Hutton and his potential successor, John Woodcock, are calling on councillors and officials to minimise the disruption caused by overlapping repairs to roads and utilities in the area.

They claim delays across the town have been commonplace for many months, but that the problem has become particularly bad in recent weeks.

Mr Woodcock says a three-way hit has developed with roadworks on the Strand, Cornwallis Street and Lawson Street causing traffic logjams on North Road – where contractors have recently started digging near the Dock Museum.

And the prospective Labour MP is asking members of Cumbria County Council’s local area committee to
co-ordinate the work.

He said: “Most accept that there will inevitably be disruption when such works are undertaken.

“But there is an increasing sense among residents that such works appear to be undertaken at the
convenience of the contractor, or those commissioning the work, with the needs of the communities not being taken in to consideration.

“The concerns raised to me reflect a sense that there is a lack of co-ordination or liaison between the various agencies and bodies involved, and that it is residents whose lives are disrupted as a
consequence – for some very considerable periods.

“People are sensible – they appreciate that improvements are being made and some disruption is inevitable, but they object when it doesn’t seem to be thought through.”

Mr Hutton MP has also written to the local area committee expressing his concern following discussions with Anne Burns, the Labour county councillor for Hindpool.

Conservative councillor Ray Guselli, chairman of the county council local area committee for
Barrow, said he was surprised that Mr Hutton has not advised Mr Woodcock that the committee had little jurisdiction over utility companies.

Cllr Guselli said: “Before giving permission for works to commence, we aim to best co-ordinate
activities. However, if works are carried out by one contractor and another contractor subsequently
requires access to the same area of highway, perhaps for previously unidentified or safety issues,
permission must be granted.

“Before we received any communication from John Hutton, the local committee had already commenced investigation into how best to advise the public and traders of the position. However, it would have been more sensible for Messrs Hutton and Woodcock to have established the scale of works being undertaken, the reasons why and the logistics involved before making comment.”

Cllr Guselli says it is inconceivable that there will not be some temporary inconvenience to both public and traders alike, when nearly £4m is being invested in the town centre.

He said: “This local area committee has already identified the need for signposting and public display of the works in progress and when they are to be finished.

“Agencies are taking very seriously their roles in these various projects and on a personal note.

“I watched contractors working extremely hard on Sunday to complete certain works in Dalton Road, to minimise any inconvenience to shoppers and traders alike.

“Councillors genuinely appreciate the disturbance that many endure. However, we hope that ‘today’s inconvenience will be tomorrow’s future’. I appreciate the ‘political’ need for the Labour parliamentary candidate, Mr Woodcock, to publicly endorse John Hutton’s letter.

“However, I would have preferred the more professional and effective approach taken by John Gough, the Conservative candidate.

“Having spoken to me, long before any press release from John Woodcock, Mr Gough gained a better understanding of the position, through meaningful dialogue.”

First published at 13:32, Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk