Driven crackers over new paving (From Warrington Guardian)

Driven crackers over new paving

COUNCIL chiefs say costly new paving stones on the much-vaunted George Street cultural quarter have been smashed by careless motorists.

Cracks have emerged in the stoned pavement recently laid and St Helens Council claims it's the result of motorists parking illegally. More new bollards have now been erected in the zone and traffic wardens are expected to up patrols to punish alleged parking offences.

But the Council's claims has been countered by businesses in the George Street area, who claim the damage has been caused by workmens' diggers and vans regularly bumping over the stones.

Stuart Manley, 39, the landlord of the Royal Alfred, said: "It is the work going on down there and their diggers that are the problem.

It's a pain

"It is a pain in the backside. They seem to put one thing down there and then dig it up the next.

Peter Darwin, of Darwin's Music, blamed the quality of the stones that had been laid down. He said: "They thrown a lot of cobbled stones away and replaced them with these modern stones. This is supposed to be progress? The quality is not there."

Following the repair work, St Helens Council issued a statement which read: "The footways have been damaged by the indiscriminate parking of vehicles.

"The paving is being repaired and additional bollards are being installed to protect the area from further damage caused by illegal parking on the footway.

"Parking on footways is not only illegal but also causes a hazard to pedestrians. The Council has, in partnership with the police, asked traffic wardens to target enforcement in the George Street area.

"The George Street scheme is being delivered within budget and to programme. The Council asks that motorists give consideration to all users of the footways, who are often adversely affected by a moment's thoughtfulness."