THERE was jubilation and celebration for residents in a Worcester street last Saturday as decades of campaigning for overhaul of their pavements came to an end.

Dozens of residents were joined by Worcester Mayor Steve MacKay and Worcestershire County Council leader Simon Geraghty for the 'pavement party', which consisted of a barbecue with celebratory drinks in York Place.

The works, which cost £180,000, are part of the ongoing programme to improve pavements across the county, involved removing old concrete foot ways and cast kerbing and replacing them with conservation kerbing and small concrete slabs.

The York Place Residents’ Association has been campaigning for more than 40 years for improved pavements in York Place.

During the works, secret cellars were found underneath the pavements, which turned out to be disused coal bunkers and water tanks. 

Worcester Mayor Steve Mackay said: "It was a great little community get together.

"A number of people got involved in trying to getting their pavements done. It has taken them many years to get to where we are now, but with the help of their councillor Simon Geraghty both sides have been done.

"It was at considerable cost because of the cellars but I believe it is a tremendous result because it looks very good."

Chairman of York Place Residents' Association Gloria Newsman said: "The party was successful despite attempts by the rain to dampen our spirits and put out the barbecue fires

"The party on Saturday was good fun and people appreciated the fact that the mayor and Simon Geraghty both attended."

The pavements had become uneven with potentially hazardous gaps partially due to repeated digging up of the roads.

In some areas pavements were so worn down drivers had begun to park on them, causing parking issues on the street.

Jane Owens, chairman of the pavement and drainage committee, part of the York Place Residents’ Association, described the old pavements as a "safety hazard".

The pavement scheme will ensure when future utilities works take place, the whole slab can be dug up and replaced rather than leaving unsightly trenches.

In addition, drainage has been improved with the addition of new gullies. The main complexity of the scheme involved dealing with the 60 plus old and dilapidated cellar lights all of which have been rebuilt with a standard glass window.

Work on the site started in March this year.

The extensive project’s competition comes about a month after Worcestershire County Council pledged to spend an extra 6m on improving the county’s pavements over the next two years.