Confusion after roadworks postponed in Grimsby
A number of barriers and cones had been put out
Gas-related roadworks at a junction in West Marsh area of Grimsby have been postponed after confusion and disruption for residents and businesses.
Works at the junction where Armstrong Street meets Charlton Street saw a number of barriers and cones put out on Friday, August 30, along with road closures. Amid the disruption, a nearby business owner claimed that he was not informed about the works beforehand, leading to confusion.
Cadent Gas says it did notify residents and businesses, but it has now postponed the work and will be talking to the council as the highways authority for a plan to do the works in the future. A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said the traffic measures were deemed unsuitable, and it asked Cadent to remove barriers and signs.
Chris Jubb runs Elite Koi and also owns Snax Corner in Armstrong Street. He and his employees arrived on Saturday morning to find the one-way priority system had been changed, and the barriers and road closure signs. He claims there was “no notification from the council or Cadent that these works were going to take place”.
He added that a call to the listed Cadent emergency number on a barrier did not get through to anyone. On Monday, when work began, he was able to speak to both Cadent and a council officer who came down. He said the council officer initially sought to get the works stopped but then backtracked and said Cadent did have a permit to do it. He also says people present in the area witnessed vehicles ignoring traffic measures.
Mr Jubb stated a resident had claimed they were blocked in all weekend by cones that had been put out, and he himself had seen vehicles mounting kerbs to go around barriers. “People should be held accountable for the loss of business we’re suffering,” he said.
He described Snax Corner as being “absolutely dead” over last weekend. By Tuesday, the works had been cancelled to re-plan them.
A Cadent spokesperson said: “As is our standard practice, we sent letters to all business owners and affected residents prior to the works beginning. We understand that works such as these cause a level of disruption, and so we give as much notice as possible.
“Due to the complex nature of the works, we have no option but to close the road, and we recognise that this causes frustration, but we need to allow our engineers the space in which to carry out the project as safely as possible.
“We have actively sought to engage with customers to look at how we can complete the works with as little disruption as possible. We have now postponed the works and we will be sitting down with the local highways authority to come up with an effective plan for how we move forward with the project.”
Mr Jubb added that he is not against the works themselves but rather the way the changes to the roads were handled. “I’m going to carry on this campaign for some time,” he said, vowing to get answers about the original sign-off.
A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said: “Cadent Gas had planned work on Charlton Street between the junctions of Armstrong Street and Corporation Road between 30 August and 19 September.” Because of the works’ extent, road closure is required for safety reasons. Equans reviewed Cadent’s submitted closure information for the council and requested works at one junction point at a time, “to avoid conflict with Corporation Bridge works”.
The spokesperson added: “As Cadent Gas is carrying out the planned works, it is a requirement that it sends letters to residents and businesses to inform of the description of works and emergency contact details. We have reminded Cadent Gas of this responsibility. The road closure has Temporary Traffic Restriction Order in place and this has been advertised by North East Lincolnshire Council prior to the start of works.
“We have attended the site and determined that the arrangement of traffic management placed on the Armstrong Street/Charlton Street junction was not suitable. Cadent Gas did not have any employees on site at that time and they were contacted and asked to attend site straight away to remove the signage and barriers at this junction. We are now working with Cadent Gas to ensure suitable traffic management arrangements will be introduced before they start work.
“Cadent Gas continue to work on Charlton Street between Armstrong Street and Corporation Road. Works remaining on Armstrong Street are in the footway only. A diversion is in place using Rendel Street and Pyewipe Road.
“Regular inspections of the work will be carried out to and a resolution for working in the junction will be discussed with Cadent Gas.”