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Thursday, July 17, 2008, 07:00
Angry shop owners in Great Dunmow, worried about the effect on trade and town centre disruption, had threatened on Monday to get the job done themselves if contractors did not get on with the work.
But on Tuesday workmen turned up and began filling in the ditches along a 40-yard section of the busy shopping street – although they could be dug up again.
Martin Hards, proprietor of the Dunmow Coffee Shop, which has fronted on to the roadworks, said: “It's unbelievable. It certainly has not helped business. It has hindered me over the last two months.
“It is not a very happy outcome as it may be dug over again.”
He said customers had been unable to sit outside regularly because of the fenced-off works.
Feelings ran so high that an unknown person put up a sign on the works saying “Dunmow Ditch Trials” – a reference to last week's Flitch Trials.
Kerry Sturgess, the owner of Blinding Blinds said: “So many people have complained about it, even passers-by.”
The roadworks – part on the road and part on the pavement – started at the end of April in connection with work on the nearby Taylor Wimpey Eastern Sector development. The work was scheduled as a 20-week job. But by the end of May work had stopped, traders said.
Contractors are now considering whether the road will have to be dug up again or whether there is another way to do the work.
A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: “We endeavour to construct our high-quality new homes with the minimum of inconvenience to the community.
“In connecting the drainage we discovered a number of underground obstacles which were not shown on the plans for the area.
“This has slowed our work down and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Our contractors are now reinstating the road, and we expect it to be back to normal by the end of the week.”
Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman Mike Perry said at a meeting on Monday: “They have gone away and left it. I think we should tell them if they don't fill it in and get it sorted we will do it.”
Another member, Terry Laplain, called for compensation for the traders affected.
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MIND THE GAP: The roadworks.
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