Residents in a sticky situation thanks to cul-de-sac roadworks (From Daily Echo)

Residents in a sticky situation thanks to cul-de-sac roadworks

9:40am Tuesday 5th August 2008 in

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RESIDENTS of a quiet Southampton cul-de-sac are up in arms after a council repair job left their road "melting".

Families in Matheson Road, Lordshill, say their children, cars and carpets have been covered in thick, black, sticky tar after contractors carried out resurfacing work on their street.

Now the neighbours are demanding action from council chiefs after being left with hefty cleaning bills to remove the sticky substance from their property.

Grandmother Terry Thorn, 48, a healthcare assistant, said: "It's just a nightmare. It ruins our cars and we have had to cut big chunks of the stuff out of our carpets.

"We have had to throw away our grandchildren's clothes because they get covered in it.

"If the job had been done properly in the first place we would not have this problem.

"There was nothing wrong with the road in the first place. I have phoned the council several times but they keep telling us to phone the contractors - but that's not our job."

Contractor Colas were brought in to resurface the road last September. They returned to fix the problem but neighbours say it hasn't made a difference.

Mum-of-two Rachel Taylor, 37, said: "We have all just had enough now as it has gone on for a year and they simply haven't done their job properly.

"I have telephoned the council so many times, but all they have done is sent around a road-sweeper. I won't let my children go out there and play any more because it sticks to their clothes and shoes and won't come off. The cars have lots of tarmac stuck to them as well."

Rachel claims that the road has started melting in the hot weather and car tyres are leaving imprints in the tarmac, which is now crumbling apart.

Southampton City Council Cabinet member for Environment and Transport, Gavin Dick, apologised to residents and said he was aware the road needed some repair work.

He said: "We are currently looking at why the road has deteriorated so quickly and we are talking to our contractors Colas about how the road should be repaired."