Council reassures residents over 'horrendous' pavement in Ashbourne

The work sparked a debate on social media after the pavement was dug up and filled in with tarmac

A council has reassured residents that work on a stretch of pavement is temporary.

The work outside Lloyds Bank in Ashbourne sparked a debate on social media after the pavement was dug up and filled in with asphalt

Derbyshire County Council said the York paving slabs were not relayed due to the £15.2m Ashbourne Reborn project.

Deputy leader Simon Spencer apologised to residents who have been concerned.

Further work is due to start at the end of the year to widen the footways.

The county council said concerns were raised following utility works on the junction of King Edward Street and Compton.

The York paving slabs were lifted and replaced with an asphalt surface.

The authority said because of the redevelopment of the area, which will see the pavement and surrounding area being lifted again, it was decided a temporary surface would be a better short-term solution rather than relaying the slabs.

'Shocking patch-up'

Resident Caroline Sterland, 34, said: "Even as a temporary measure, it looks awful. It's horrendous.

"The thing is the temporary measure could mean months of it looking an eyesore.

"There has been no consideration of the aesthetics of the finished job."

Many residents on social media said it was "absolutely disgraceful", with one adding: "The whole of the town's roads and pavements have been trashed."

Another resident said it was a "shocking patch-up that needs to be put right".

Derbyshire County Council said concerns were raised following utility works on the junction of King Edward Street and Compton

The York slabs will be stored and reused as part of bus service improvement works in Church Street later this year, the county council said.

The authority said as part of the multi-million project the works will help to "transform the pedestrian experience" with wider footways and new and improved crossings around the town centre.

Mr Spencer said: "We are sorry that residents have been concerned by what has happened to the York paving slabs but we can reassure everyone that the surface put down currently is temporary and will be transformed when all the work is finished.

"The temporary measure is because there will be further works in the area and it was agreed this was the best use of resources to use this surface temporarily rather than re-laying the slabs.

"The slabs themselves will be carefully stored and then re-used to benefit another area of the town."