Pavement repairs are just an 'interim measure'

The use of tarmac to fill holes in a pavement is only a temporary measure and it will be replaced by "high-quality resurfacing of the area", a council has promised residents.

There have been complaints about the work in Goole, East Yorkshire, where a new electricity supply is being installed in Paradise Place and Boothferry Road by Complete Utility Services.

Goole Civic Society said that "with all the public realm works being planned this is unacceptable".

But East Riding of Yorkshire Council said the tarmac was temporary and simply an "interim measure".

"This is a common and accepted approach to avoid re-laying surfaces that are due to be replaced shortly," a council spokesperson said.

"The decision for the utility company to use a temporary reinstatement was made with the council's agreement, and the paving blocks that were removed will be taken off-site and stored for potential reuse in future repairs."

Margaret Hicks-Clarke, chair of Goole Civic Society, told the BBC it was a "terrible mess".

She said: "It's been done in a really visible part of town where people park and do their shopping, so there is no getting away from it.

"It has caused a lot of anger among residents as it just looks so different from the rest of the pavement.

"We feel it is totally unacceptable and needs to be sorted out soon."

The council spokesperson said: "We appreciate that the appearance of temporary surfaces can cause concern, but we'd like to reassure residents and businesses that a full, high-quality resurfacing of the area will be delivered as part of the upcoming public realm scheme."

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