Abandoned roadworks materials left on a busy road between Hangleton and Portslade have finally been claimed by the council after three different organisations denied being responsible for them.
North Portslade Councillor Peter Atkinson said the “ludicrous” situation came after he checked with three different authorities, who all said the materials were not theirs.
The abandoned roadworks by the A27 Hangleton interchange roundabout were first reported in January by a resident who said the materials were restricting sight on the roundabout.
After National Highways and West Sussex County Council both denied that the materials were theirs, Brighton and Hove City Council finally admitted to the materials being part of an earlier roadworks programme.
The chair of the council’s transport and sustainability committee, Councillor Trevor Muten, said: “We’re sorry about the abandoned roadworks materials by the A27 Hangleton interchange roundabout.
“The work that was being carried out on some illuminated signs near the roundabout was on the boundary of land that Highways England is responsible for.
“But the works were the council’s responsibility. We’re chasing our contractor to remove the materials by the end of this week.
“We’d like to thank everyone who contacted the council raising these concerns, which we have now acted upon.”
Cllr Atkinson said: “I’m grateful that we’ve finally got to the bottom of who is responsible for these works and the accompanying materials.
“It was incredibly frustrating being bumped between different organisations but we got there in the end, which is a relief.”
Breaching health and safety laws is serious and can be reported to the HSE. There should have been a health and safety risk assessment for these works and a project management plan for the entire project including roadwork dismantling implemented by the site manager as soon as works were completed. So where was the site manager? Also against health and safety law if there wasn’t one.
Have you reported it to the HSE yet Barry?
And thats why it costs as council tax payers hundreds of pounds to change a light bulb. Over the top nonsense like that.
Clearly a minor issue that just needed them being collected. Honestly; you choose some bizarre inconsequential metaphorical hills to argue about, Barry.
I agree with Mr Johnson, local council’s have a duty of to all road users. It’s a great pity that many of the roadwork projects are not properly supervised (a) to ensure that backfilling work is correctly completed to ensure that road repair surfaces do not sink and (b) no action is taken to ensure that contractors are made to rectify such defects at their costs rather than pay them to repair the damage under the pothole budget.
And it could just have been (a) removed in a timely manner.
I’ve been chasing Conway who left barriers on Warren Road in Woodingdean after the resurfacing works in January, you’d think they would want their stuff!
Just threaten to cut them loose on breach of contract if they can’t do the job properly and safely.
Just chuck it on eBay, I’m sure the funds could go towards resurfacing castle square
Unfortunately for the other comments, it’s not illegal for roadworks barriers to be placed and left if it’s linked to a permitted job.
Annoying yes, illegal no
But a breach of health and safety if obscuring driver sight lines. Plus the job was over so no excuses for leaving them there.
No H&S breach, a drivers vision isn’t restricted from looking at the photo. Drivers should be looking at the road not the verge.
Doesn’t apply here Barry.
Would be the driver at fault for not being observant, driving with due care; recognising a potential risk and adjusting driving speed and positioning accordingly.
Sadly speaks volumes about our feckless council
Oh I think there are at least two fecks in amongst them