Council slammed for patching up £3.6m pavement with 'crumbling blob of tar'

21 June 2024 , 13:03

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Shifnal residents Jackie and David Wenlock who were some of those unimpressed at the state of the pavement (Image: Shropshire Star/SWNS)

A council is facing backlash after it fixed a multi-million pound new pavement with a large blob of "crumbling" tar.

Locals are up in arms after a former public telephone box was removed from the high street Shifnal in Shropshire, filling the gap with a jarring tarmac square. But Shropshire Council say the shoddy repairs will be replaced with a 'like-for-like' alternative to blend in with the area but residents claim the current outcome looks "ridiculous".

The high street had just been revamped with a £3.6 million regeneration scheme last year, which included scores of swanky new paving slabs. Now the expensively-refurbished pavement is at odds thanks to the unsightly square. Shifnal residents David and Jackie Wenlock were left unimpressed after they spied the controversial work.

Locals are up in arms after a former public telephone box was removed and left with a 'shoddy' repair (Shropshire Star/SWNS)

David, 62, described it as "ridiculous", saying: "It is still soft, it is crumbling away." He added: "Surely they can find half a dozen paving slabs for it." Shropshire council assured locals that the slabs would be replaced as soon as possible, but offered no time frame.

A spokesman said: "The phone kiosk was removed last Tuesday and the contractor has advised us that they will be replacing the slabs with a like-for-like replacement as soon as possible."

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