Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Flood of apologies from water firm over works

- By ANDREW ROBINSON

YORKSHIRE Water has issued another apology after admitting further delays to long-running roadworks in a Huddersfie­ld village.

Traders and villagers in Slaithwait­e in the Colne Valley have been left feeling frustrated and angry over works on Britannia Road which have led to serious ongoing congestion in the village centre.

Businesses including a florist and a chippy say they are losing thousands of pounds because people are avoiding the village.

On October 14, Yorkshire Water issued an apology and a statement which said: “Work will continue shortly and we hope to have it completed in the next couple of weeks.”

But four weeks on and the work is still a long way from being finished and metal fences remain in front of the shops, which is deterring shoppers and adding to parking and congestion problems.

Traders said the situation is an ongoing ‘nightmare.’

This week a Yorkshire Water spokesman said it would be removing the works “at the end of November” – but engineers may need to return to finish off the work in 2022.

A Yorkshire Water spokespers­on said: “We’ve been in regular contact with customers and local businesses to update on progress of the works on Britannia Road. We know that the works have caused disruption and would like to apologise to any businesses that have been affected.

“Please contact our customer liaison team to discuss compensati­on, if you haven’t already.

“Our teams have been working hard day and night to try and complete the work, but engineerin­g difficulti­es, supply chain delays and the need to work around other utilities has meant that it’s taking slightly longer than we would like.

“We have agreed with Kirklees Council that we will remove the works at the end of November, to allow easier access over the Christmas period. Although we may have to return and complete the work in the new year.” Traders in Slaithwait­e said they were under a lot of financial pressure because of the roadworks.

Janet Broscombe, who owns Lily of the Valley florist on Britannia Road, said: “It’s a nightmare – all the village shops are feeling it now.”

 ?? ?? Business owners David Hirst, Stuart Gledhill, Anne Newsome, Jackie Restall and Janet Broscombe at the roadworks on Britannia Road
Business owners David Hirst, Stuart Gledhill, Anne Newsome, Jackie Restall and Janet Broscombe at the roadworks on Britannia Road

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