NEW pavement work which uses recycled materials is raising a few eyebrows in Weymouth.

But council chiefs say don’t worry – it’ll smooth over soon.

The newly-laid black surface shocked pensioner Joan Anderson, who reckons Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has some explaining to do.

Mrs Anderson said she was startled by the state of the pavement outside her home in Dorchester Road at Lodmoor and thought the work was unfinished. She said: “When I saw it I was hoping it was only a temporary layer. It looks cheap, rough and unfinished.

“The road was resurfaced a while ago and that was a lovely job but the pavement is another story.

“I couldn’t believe the colour of it and it’s so gritty. If they did the same thing along the seafront I’m sure people would be up in arms.”

Grandmother Mrs Anderson, 80, added: “With the Olympics coming up the town needs to look smart.”

But borough highways chiefs have moved to reassure residents about the surface, laid by Cheshire-based environmental highway maintenance group JPCS.

The council says the same process to seal pavements has been used by the contractor for over a decade and work on the pavement on Dorchester Road from Westerhall to Manor Roundabout is part of an ongoing programme being carried out at priority routes. Forthcoming work will be determined by money available in the budget but it is hoped to secure additional government funding for highway works in time for the 2012 Olympics.

Although sealing work involves filling in potholes and cracks, the whole pavement is covered by the material, which sinks in over time as people walk over it.

Council spokesman for transport and infrastructure Christine James said: “A thin layer of liquid sealer is applied to the surface after weed killing and pressure washing.

“The material includes fine aggregate, recycled tyres and cement. It can stick up slightly when first applied but is soon flattened to a smooth finish.

“In a busy area such as Lodmoor Hill the surface will be smoothed down by footfall in as little as a day.

“This sealing process is very successful, reducing potholes and the need for minor repairs.”

A spokesman for JPCS said: “The process waterproofs the pavement and protects it from further deterioration. As the days go by it settles in nicely.”