Torquay's Fleet Street to stay closed for longer
FLEET Street in Torquay town centre is to remain closed for a month longer than originally planned.
Contractors are currently carrying out an improvement scheme on behalf of Torbay Council along a 140-metre section at the lower end of Fleet Street.
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Fleet Street Feb 2013 Picture by Don Proctor
As part of the scheme to regenerate the Fleet Street shopping area, contractors have removed block paving that was originally laid in 1989 and they will be replacing it with granite paving.
The works schedule included the closure of Fleet Street between 14 January and 19 February, with buses being diverted during this period.
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However, when the contractors excavated the carriageway they ran into unforeseen conditions.
These included more mass concrete than anticipated which will have to be broken up before removal, various uncharted services, and high voltage cables that must be protected.
The water main will have to be protected with concrete, and ducts for various communications companies will also have to be diverted or lowered.
Torbay Council has agreed to extend the road closure until 19 March. Letters have been delivered in the Fleet Street area to explain the reasons, provide information relating to deliveries arrangements and apologise for any inconvenience.
Cllr Robert Excell, Executive Lead for Safer Communities and Transport, said: "It is unfortunate that Fleet Street will have to remain close for longer than originally anticipated, with its effect on bus services.
"However, it is important to remind people that shops and businesses remain open, with full access maintained for pedestrians.
"We are confident the contractors and various utility companies will do everything they can to resolve all the issues as quickly as they can. This will include the contractors working on Saturdays and potentially bringing in extra people at the appropriate time.
"However, we appreciate that they are also in the hands of the utility companies who will need to programme the essential diversion and protection work relating to their services.
"We will endeavour, if possible, to get the road re-opened sooner rather than later.
"Despite this unforeseen extra work, we hope that the widely welcomed scheme, which forms the first phase of a proposed £2.5-million revamp in Fleet Street, will still be completed by the middle of June."
13 Comments
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by robocop1982
Saturday, February 16 2013, 6:20PM
“they could line fleet walk flower boxes with tomato plants in the summer and they would grow freely. why not replace those flower beds with something usful like food. WHy do we not do simple things like this which would really enhance a town with simple ideas. why don't torbay council plant food instead of flower beds which would allow people to eat for free. note the lack of food in this area.”
by mikelister66
Saturday, February 16 2013, 1:11PM
“Everyone is an expert....”
by nicold
Saturday, February 16 2013, 10:41AM
“Wow Bleach...a lot of waffle there. The same could be said of you....lol”
by Bleach
Saturday, February 16 2013, 7:31AM
“But you don't know that they haven't. And you're not really a construction expert so you don't really know if the project is going fast or slow for a project of this type. And you're not familiar with the details of the running of this project so you have no idea whether the cause of the delay is legitimate or not. So really you're just mouthing off from a position of complete ignorance.”
by nicold
Friday, February 15 2013, 7:31PM
“"How do you know they haven't done this?"
Hardly...as I said, they certainly haven't got their finger out. Looking at the situation, you would think they're on a go slow!”
by Dumplinboy
Friday, February 15 2013, 7:30PM
“The Contract will almost certainly provide that the Contractor must pay liquidated damages if he is late completing the Works. However, if the Contractor encounters unforeseen conditions, as seems to be the case, i.e. Torbay Council did not provide the correct information, which is somewhat surprising given that Fleet Street has been dug up many, many times, it is necessary to allow the Contractor an extension of time in order tp preserve the Council's right to charge liquidated damages if the new completion date is not met.”
by Bleach
Friday, February 15 2013, 5:13PM
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"Maybe if it was in the contract to finish at a certain date and if they don't finish on time, payment will be reduced"
How do you know they haven't done this?”
by Bleach
Friday, February 15 2013, 5:11PM
“Exactly. Then you can complain about the cost of the overtime.”
by nicold
Friday, February 15 2013, 5:08PM
“What's wrong with working on Sundays?...surely they can implement a shift system. This is a main bus route and needs to be completed as soon as possible. I walk through there most days and hardly ever see any work being done...just groups of workmen standing around in groups chatting. Maybe if it was in the contract to finish at a certain date and if they don't finish on time, payment will be reduced, they would certainly get their finger out! There's plenty of other contractors around to do the job!”
by Sinjis_Things
Friday, February 15 2013, 4:43PM
“Why do any road closures like this take so long? Torbay Council should insist that the work is done more quickly by insisting that contractors work 7 days per week and start at say 7am and finish at 7 pm thus the inconvenience to all is less. I remember Wandsworth Council, South West London, doing something like this back in the late 70s when a fairly busy road was closed for essential work and the contractors worked 12 hours a day 7days a week to get the work done quickly. If Wandsworth could arrange that 35 years ago why can't Torbay do it now in 2013?”