Car in the way? Just tarmac round it (From Northwich Guardian)

Car in the way? Just tarmac round it

5:20pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in News By James Wilson

COUNCIL workmen in Northwich decided that a car wasn’t going to get in the way of their job resurfacing a road – so just worked around it instead.

Amused onlookers and office workers discovered the ‘unique’ handiwork of the boys from the black stuff – working on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council – as they completed the job in Weir Street, off London Road, on Wednesday.

Despite advanced warning being sent to people who live in the area, it is understood the owner of the red Volkswagen Golf was on holiday and lives nearby, but will now return home to find his car adrift in a sea of new tarmac.

And council bosses have said they will only come back and do the bit they missed if contractors are in the locality resurfacing a different road because it is not cost-effective to come back to Weir Road and complete the job.

Noel Evans, from Weaverham, saw the car when he arrived for work at the Cheshire Carers Centre, and couldn’t believe what he saw.

He said: “The workmen just got on with it and the staff in the office said they didn’t check with anyone, they just did it.

“It was ridiculous really. I thought they would at least come back and do the rest of it another day.”

The work to resurface the road – being carried out by contractor BAM Nuttall and sub contracted out again to Hanson’s – cost the council £14,269.

Shirley Wingfield, spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Before we carry out any resurfacing work we put up notices and put a note through people’s letterboxes a couple of weeks before.

“We also cone off the road the day before.

“On this occasion, the owner of the vehicle was away, and that is why we worked around it.

“We checked if the road surface was good underneath the car and agreed that it was.”

She added: “During this financial year, there will be occasions when small works will be carried out, and it will include the missing section on Weir Street, but the contractors can’t give a date.

“If they are doing work nearby they will then complete the road.”

What do you think about the decision to tarmac round the car? Let us know at northwichguardian.co.uk/forum.