The pavement outside the Dick Whittington pub on Westgate Street in Gloucester has come under fire after National Grid Electricity Distribution replaced paving slabs with asphalt following urgent repair work.
Last week, National Grid carried out essential maintenance on a faulty underground link box outside the pub. However, instead of reinstating the original paving slabs, workers installed a temporary asphalt surface. National Grid explained that the original slabs were in poor condition and deemed unsuitable for reuse. The asphalt patch was intended as a short-term solution to reopen the footpath quickly.
Westgate Councillor Rebecca Trimnell expressed strong dissatisfaction with the repair job. “I was horrified to see the state in which National Grid left the pavement outside the Dick Whittington after their work,” she said. “The pub is under new management and preparing to reopen soon, so this makes the unacceptable temporary fix even more problematic.”
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Councillor Trimnell added that she had contacted the county council highways team to investigate the issue and push for a permanent repair. However, she voiced frustration with the slow and ineffective nature of the current legislation surrounding such works. “I want the county council to hold National Grid accountable and ensure the pavement is properly restored without delay,” she said.
A National Grid spokesperson acknowledged local concerns, stating: “The existing paving slabs were found to be in poor condition and unsuitable for re-use, which we discussed with Gloucestershire County Council prior to the work. The tarmac surface is a temporary reinstatement to enable safe reopening of the footpath and will be replaced once the appropriate slabs are supplied by the highways authority.”
The energy company has committed to relaying replacement slabs as soon as possible as part of a permanent restoration plan. Meanwhile, residents and city officials alike are urging swift action to maintain the historic character and pedestrian safety of this prominent city centre location.