Dust hasn't settled in 'Dangerous' road works debate

A DANGEROUS road resurfacing programme is saving money, but at a cost to public safety. That is the claim by motorists who say recent road smashes in Times Territory on a series of resurfacing works being undertaken by Hertfordshire Highways. The works

A "DANGEROUS" road resurfacing programme is saving money, but at a cost to public safety.

That is the claim by motorists who say recent road smashes in Times Territory on a series of resurfacing works being undertaken by Hertfordshire Highways.

The works involve laying loose chippings along the road, which eventually bed into the surface and maintain the road for longer.

But it also has created huge dust clouds, and increased the risk of skidding.

Alan Delliston, who skidded off the A414 near Hatfield recently, said at the time that the road "was like ice".

But now Hertfordshire Highways has hit back, saying the works save money, and prevent long-term road closures.

A spokesman said: "It's much more cost effective to maintain the road in this way while it is in relatively good condition. It will enable us to keep the road in good condition for longer, at a fraction of the cost of replacing and re-tarmacing at a later stage."

For more on this story, see this week's Welwyn & Hatfield Times.