National Grid faces daily fines for 'disgraceful' overrunning roadworks
National Grid have been given daily fines over significant delays to a Leicestershire roadworks project. The utility company has sparked criticism from the public and politicans over its handling of the works on Welland Park Road in Market Harborough which continue to overrun.
National Grid began works on Welland Park Road, near to Welland Park Academy, on Monday, August 12. They were originally set to finish on Friday, August 23, but the project has now dragged into September, causing significant disruption to residents, while it has also raised safety concerns for pupils back at school.
Now, Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP, Neil O'Brien, has strongly criticised the delays, describing them as "disgraceful". He is calling for National Grid to reconsider its contractors.
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The overrunning works had led to National Grid seeking an extension to the deadline with Leicestershire County Council. However, the authority refused amid concerns of "increased safety risks" to school children and other pedestrians according to Mr O'Brien.
Despite this refusal, works have continued on site. National Grid are being fined daily by the county council as a result of the delays, with a spokesperson saying the fixed penalty notices have been issued "following The Street Works Regulations".
Mr O'Brien is demanding action from the utility firm. He said: "I have written to the boss of National Grid about this disgraceful situation. The company implied to do the works has massively disrupted people's lives and the site was not safe - it is simply not good enough. The county council have fined them, which is right and I am encouraging National Grid to rethink who they are using to do this kind of work."
A National Grid spokesperson said: "We have been carrying out some reinforcement work in Market Harborough so that we can continue to provide a safe and reliable electricity supply. Work has taken longer than we expected due to some engineering difficulties with a sewer pipe.
"We apologise for the disruption this has caused. We will reopen the footpath on Monday, September 9 and would like to thank the local community for their patience."
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