Anger as families' driveways blocked while gas mains replaced
Residents in a Black Country street faced chaos after work to replace gas mains blocked people in homes and caused one resident to postpone moving house after huge trench holes were created .
Workers began replacing new gas mains and individual services pipes in Sundour Crescent, Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, on Monday, with residents now advised the work will be completed 'by the middle of next week'.
Over 30 homes have been affected by the trench holes and fencing, which has taken over the street.
Many residents said they were not told about the work - although National Grid insisted letters were sent to houses several weeks ago.
People had to request for road plates to be put down so they were able to get off their drives, with one resident Carl Timmins, 50, still waiting after asking for the plates on Wednesday.
He said: "They should have been put down 10am on Friday morning and there's still no sign of them. I don't know where they expect me to park, the road's a mess."
Regional press officer for National Grid, Jane Taylor, insists letters were 'door dropped' to houses weeks before work took place, but all residents that contacted the Express & Star confirmed they didn't receive any notification.
MP Emma Reynolds said she was 'concerned about what has happened' and that it was 'unacceptable that residents weren't notified' about the work.
Ben Forrest, 41, was due to move house on Thursday.
He said: "They shouldn't be able to get away with this. It's cost me £600 to hire the removal van and van hire and I've had to cancel it. What would have happened if I'd hired a skip? It would have been carnage.
"Trench holes were dug up with no road plates covering gaps, which is unbelievably dangerous. There's kids in the street, have they not thought about that?
"Workers had put fencing and dug trench holes right across my drive, all on the basis they'd been told by a neighbour I was away, what kind of excuse is that? I should have been notified directly before being blocked in."
There have, however, been opposing views.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I'll admit the road is chaotic and it's been a struggle, but the workers have been absolutely fantastic, I couldn't fault them at all.
"A woman who lived in the street for over 60 years sadly passed away recently. Speaking to workers about it, they're doing everything they can to finish the job before her funeral proceedings take place from her home on Tuesday.
"They really have been very accommodating."
