A FORMER construction worker has branded resurfacing a small road 'a waste of public money' and says the cash would be better spent fixing potholes on the main road.
Nick Gainsford has written to his MP, asking why public money has been spent on resurfacing work on a single track road at the junction of Withybed Lane and Stonepit Lane in Inkberrow.
He described a large-scale operation with six men on the laying team, two men on rollers and six asphalt trucks 'nose to tail' in Withybed Lane.
However, highways chiefs have defended the decision with Jon Fraser of Worcestershire County Council sharing a photo showing a heavily potholed road before it was fixed by contractors.
Mr Gainsford, who says he has worked 40 years in the construction industry, asked how public money could be spent on a single-track road serving a farm during the work on Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6.
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He said: "Why is the council paying for a resurfaced private drive in Inkberrow rather than mending potholes in the main A422 or putting a pedestrian crossing outside our local primary school - scandal."
In his letter to Redditch MP Rachel Maclean, written before the work was finished, he said: "On my daily walk with our dogs I spoke to the contractor on an asphalt surfacing gang, stating to set-up for two days work on the junction.
"I asked the contractor what the programme of work was? He advised that today the single track road down to the farm would be resurfaced - Broadclose Lane and tomorrow the junction of Withybed Lane and Stonepit Lane will be resurfaced, as there are poor road conditions, potholes etc and settlement, which is required.
"However can this be justified in this cost of living crisis in times of social hardship with people being driven to use food banks, not being able to heat their homes in this energy crisis?
"There are many examples in our area that this money could have been used on to good effect, with potholes everywhere you look, rather than what is in effect a private drive to a parish councillor's residence."
He branded the work 'an abject waste of public money'.
However, Jon Fraser of Worcestershire County Council Highways said: "Highway maintenance is determined on an objective basis.
"All of the roads referred to are adopted and maintained by the county council, not private drives.
"Broadclose Lane has been resurfaced in a binder course prior to surface dressing later in the year.
"The junction of Stonepit Lane has also been resurfaced, there was an area of failure on the junction that had been temporarily repaired previously."
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