Mayor says Esplanade patch-up job is appalling - but county insists it’s only temporary

HIGHWAYS chiefs have come under fire for carrying out a patch-up job on Seaton’s showcase Esplanade.

Mayor Peter Burrows says he is appalled at the “poor quality” of the resurfacing work and fears the state of the road could harm the resort’s tourist industry.

Officials at Devon County Council insist the repairs are only temporary and say they will be back to complete the job before the end of next June.

But Mr Burrows says it would have been better to have left the surface as it was.

He said: “I was appalled at the poor quality of work and the patchwork state they have left the road in. It would have been better if they hadn’t even touched it. I complained immediately to Devon County Council and last week the highways officer has agreed that the work is substandard.

“Former county councillor Margaret Rogers, who was visiting, said it was a sad day when Seaton has been treated in this way and it doesn’t encourage visitors, especially with the hated parking meters covering so many empty spaces.

“I think I have been assured that something will be done but I shall wait, along with the rest of Seaton, in hope.”

This week Devon County Council spokesman denied anyone there had accepted the work was “sub standard”.

Devon highways spokesman, cabinet member Councillor Stuart Hughes issued the following statement: “Following the installation of pay and display along the Esplanade in the summer of 2010, and the associated changes to the line markings, it was proposed to overlay the parking area with microasphalt surfacing this year. Unfortunately as a consequence of the harsh winter weather the road deteriorated to the extent that microasphalt was currently not a practicable solution. The road has been partly patched as a temporary measure. Councillor Jim Knight and county council highways officers have met to agree the schedule for further patching work and the microasphalt work. “Microasphalt surfacing can only be carried out from mid April to mid October when the temperature and ambient weather conditions are acceptable for this type of work.

“We will ensure that the microasphalt surfacing of the Esplanade in Seaton is scheduled to be completed before the end of June 2012.”