Dear Sir,
Several months ago now – at least – there was an article in your columns regarding the state of the road surface on the stretch of Burn Lane that runs from the Cobblers Hall pub towards Middridge Road. In that article was a response from the relevant authorities, in effect, promising that the contractor that had resurfaced the road, albeit badly, had been contacted and made aware of the state it was in.
Supposedly the said contractor was going to return to re-do the road again in the not too distant future if I remember correctly.
How many months ago was that now? I only use this stretch of road occasionally, however the residents of Cobblers Hall and anyone else that uses it on a daily basis must be getting tired of having to drive up and down what can only be described as little more than a dirt track.
Surely the unevenness of the surface of this road will increase the wear and tear factor it has upon peoples tyres, not to mention to a lesser extent but, I suspect, still relevant, the shock absorbers, suspension etc.
Obviously the relevant people at County Hall do not use this road otherwise, perhaps, I might not find myself writing this article, as no doubt it would have been rectified months ago.
Maybe it is time the people of Newton Aycliffe collectively refused to pay their Road Fund Duty and see if this accelerates an already well overdue repair.
Perhaps someone from County Hall would like to shed some light on why this unacceptable situation has been allowed to endure.
Ian Archbold, Woodham
County Council Reply
Burn Lane was resurfaced last year by the method of surface dressing. The work was carried out by Kiely Bros.
Kiely Bros won a competitively tendered (price /quality) tender to deliver a 5 year programme of works. They are just about to commence the 4th year of the contract.
We were aware during the winter months this site had failed and therefore contacted Kiely Bros. As determined in the contract Kiely Bros will resurface the road at their own cost.
Surface Dressing is weather dependent and therefore must be completed during the summer months for the best results. Kiely Bros will be returning to Durham in June and the resurfacing of Burn Lane will take place, weather permitting, in the 1st week of June.
Paul Anderson
Assistant Policy and Asset Manager
