MORE bungled work by Thurrock Council contractors has again left the authority red-faced and having to make an embarrassing admission to residents.

Yesterday (Thursday, 16 June) Thurrock Nub News highlighted failures in supposedly bike-restricting barriers placed on Orsett Heath to keep its users safe from rogue bike riders.

The standard of workmanship and faults was criticised by Chadwell St Mary ward councillor Daniel Chukwu.

Today the council, which has declined to answer questions from Thurrock Nub News, took to social media to issue a statement that says the work is not good enough and will have to be redone.

The statement says: "We are aware of the issues with the new barriers contractors have installed in Orsett Heath. The standard of work delivered is below that we expected.

"We have made the contractors aware of the issues and they will return to make the work good next week.

"These barriers are part of larger partnership work taking place between Thurrock Council and Essex Police to tackle the issue of rogue motorcyle and quad bike riders misusing green spaces in the borough."

The council's embarrassment is compounded by the fact this is not the first time shoddy work has been flagged up in the area.

The botched bridge barriers highlighted in 2020.

In August 2020 Thurrock Nub News reported on similar failings when inappropriate barriers were installed on a footpath and bridleway not far away from the current blunder zone, also on the Heath. The barriers stopped people with prams and wheelchairs using the path and larger pedestrians found them uncomfortable to use too. They also stopped access on a bridleway for horse riders who are permitted by law to use them!

Again the council had to authorise work to rip them out and replace them!

And in January this year, residents took matters into their own hands and tore down barriers on footpath 95 on Greyhound Lane which were also put in place from responsible off-road motorbikes and quadbike riders. It remains unknown who tore them down or why – but residents had highlighted the barriers were restrictive to legitimate users.

On that occasion local ward councillor Adam Carter condemned the action as vandalism and said: "I am disgusted to see that much-needed target hardening has been ripped out within 24 hours of installation."

COMMENT

Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight said: "Again, it is incredibly disappointing that we can't talk to the council about these issues. Nub News is black-listed because we have the temerity to point out mistakes. We also point out lots of good things done by the council and councillors are happy to talk to us when it's a positive story, but they bury their heads in the sand over this continual series of cock-ups and failures. We have reported on innumerable botched housing repairs, shoddy roadworks and overspent and incomplete projects.

"One has to wonder who signs off this work? There are 243 officers paid more than £50,000 a year at Thurrock Council. I'm sure the majority of them are full value for the money but the plonkers who keep messing things up like this should be getting P45s not plaudits and payslips."