Calls for 'sloppy' £350k resurfacing to be fixed

Campaigners say the gateway to Cheltenham town centre is now "grubby and uninviting"

A civic society have voiced its frustration over a "superficial" response to "exceedingly poor" resurfacing work to a town's high street.

The £350,000 work was carried out earlier this year to The Strand part of Cheltenham's High Street with promises it would match Cambray Place, which had faced ridicule for so-called "tarmac cow pats".

Gloucestershire County Council leader, Lisa Spivey, said the work was awarded in line with their procurement procedures and has been carried out properly.

Andrew Booton, Cheltenham Civic Society chairman, said her response missed the point and has angered many town residents, and called for the contractors to come back and bring it up to standard.

The civic society claims the county council promised the work would be done to the same standard as Cambray Place

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Mr Booton questioned whether the specifications of the contract were downgraded or if the contractor, Ringway, failed to meet them.

"Whatever the case, the implementation by GCC's contractor is both exceedingly poor and sloppy – leaving Cheltenham with a very grubby and uninviting gateway to the town centre," he said.

However, he acknowledged that the work on The Strand is still under a year's warranty for materials and workmanship.

"What we are saying is that the contractors must be made to come back and remedy the installation under warranty and bring it up to the required standard – i.e. the same as the pedestrianised part of Cambray Place," he said.

'Pleasant to visit'

Ms Spivey said: Whilst this may not be the visual appearance we would have liked to have been able to install, the surface is safe and not defective."

Highway cabinet member, Joe Harris, has contacted the civic society to meet with them and discuss their concerns.

The county council has previously said they are working with Cheltenham Borough Council to improve aspects of the town centre.

The work includes art installations, benches and planters in an attempt to enhance the area.

Shire Hall chiefs are confident that once the work is complete, the town centre will remain a pleasant place to visit.