Works carried out on a pavement that was ripped up less than two months after being laid has led to a county councillor labelling it as “the worst example of groundworks I have ever seen”.
The shambolic situation outside the recently built Teras Yr Efail housing block in the centre of Guilsfield has drawn criticism from residents and officials alike.
No sooner had the work been completed, ground workers were back to rip up a central strip and after a month of laying cables and pipes, they have left an “appalling” job in its wake, according to the local councillor.
Powys County Council told us it was not their problem, so we contacted Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) two weeks back when the work was ongoing, but have not received a reply.
County councillor Ian Harrison has taken the issue up with County Hall, and is fuming.
“It’s an appalling piece of work,” said Cllr Harrison, who added that the work involved replacing a power cable and transformer to the power substation at Fairview Avenue.
“SPEN have failed to manage the contractors to any reasonable standard of workmanship and senior Powys Officers seem reluctant to hold them to account. They couldn’t run a bath between them.
“This is easily the worst example of groundworks that I think I have ever seen.
“SPEN needs to be held to account for this appallingly shoddy work, and to completely resurface both stretches of footpath in entirety, from the new substation all the way along Fairview Avenue and around the corner to the Cross, past Teras Yr Efail.”
An insider at Powys County Council has informed us that to their understanding, the pavement will be resurfaced again in its entirety in the coming weeks. The cost is expected to be picked up by SPEN, and not the taxpayer.