Fresh revamp for High Street (From Worcester News)

Fresh revamp for High Street

12:30pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

RESURFACING: Worcester’s High Street (15250108) Buy this photo »

WORCESTER’S High Street is set for yet another facelift – seven years after a £1.3 million revamp.

The patchy, worn out resin on the main thoroughfare has been plagued with problems ever since engineers ripped up the old surface in the middle of the last decade.

Marks, scratches, dips and dents are dotted along the length and breadth of the pavement which runs through the centre of the street as it has struggled to cope with the weight of lorries and the way they are unloaded.

Now that gas works are complete the city and county council have joined forces with National Grid to spend about £90,0000 laying a new surface which engineers hope will do a better job.

The slabs will not be replaced as part of the works between the Cross and Pump Street which will take place over five nights in April.

Margaret Crocker, manager of Russell and Bromley, said: “I think the work they did before has been a waste of money – the old surface they took up had been down for years but the new one has worn quite badly.”

News of the resurfacing work comes after the Worcester News was contacted by a handful of residents and the city’s Green Party complaining about the state of the High Street.

County councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways and transport, denied that the £1.3 million works had been a complete waste of money as the surfacing was only a small part of the overall cost.

He said: “We think it will be better for the environment and better wearing than the previous resin.”

The city council is stumping up to £50,000 for the project from its New Homes Bonus fund even though it is not responsible for Worcester’s highways.

Businesses will be contacted about the work but they can also contact officers via the Worcestershire Hub on 08456 072005.