Dorset Council accused of cost cutting over road resurfacing work

Martins Way and Martins Close, both small residential cul-de-sacs in Ferndown, have recently had a fresh coat of tarmac by Dorset Council. 

However, the road used by drivers to access both roads, Martins Drive, has been left out and residents are not happy. 

Not least Graham Barber, who has been left confused as to why Martins Drive has been left with holes and uneven surfaces despite the council only resurfacing it a year ago.

Martins Drive, Ferndown, is jaggedy (Image: Daily Echo)

The retired shop fitter from London said: “You drive down and all the way are dips and bumps and it’s like this throughout.  

“The manholes are all raised – normally you can’t tell when you’ve driven over one, but you can here.

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“If you’re a stranger and you drive in and it’s awful looking, would you bother?” 

The 73-year-old, who moved to Dorset 19 years ago, said he is a stickler for good detail and doing the job right first time and called for the council to resurface Martins Drive. 

Martins Drive road surface (Image: Daily Echo)

He added: “I think somebody is cost cutting, without a doubt, or somebody doesn’t know what they’re talking about. 

“There are 47 houses in this road and it is taking all this traffic, the road is in a terrible state.

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“Ultimately, I want these jobs to be done right. In the long term if you don’t do a job properly, you waste all the money. 

“I don’t know how much this costs here, the machines had at least 15 fellas on them, but I think it could be £50,000 to £60,000.” 

Mr Barber accused the council of cost cutting (Image: Daily Echo)

A spokeswoman for Dorset Council said work carried out in Martins Drive last year is called surface dressing, which prolongs the life of roads not in need of a full repair, adding an inspection was carried out this week and the surface is "performing well and as expected".

She added: "Depending on the classification of a road and its condition, we use one of several available processes.

"This can be anything from surface dressing to a full resurfacing/reconstruction. Surface dressing prevents water ingress and restores a safe texture.

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"This costs approximately £4 to £5 per square metre and is a nationally recognised best practice, relatively low-cost way to prevent the need for full repair.

"It is also quick to do which means we can treat more of our roads to keep them in good condition."

Martins Drive, Ferndown (Image: Daily Echo)

The spokeswoman said the minor roads off Martins Drive do not lend themselves to this treatment, partly due to the "application process of the treatment and due the tight turning circles of vehicles in the roads which can pull up the chippings".

"This means we use a different process for these types of roads, which could be a conventional asphalt or a microapshalt. It is slightly more expensive at typically £6 to £8 per square metre."