Workers dig up Barnard Castle street which was just resurfaced in June

A ROAD which was resurfaced in June was dug up again within weeks – and workers have been back for a second time to carry out more maintenance.

King Street, in Barnard Castle, was closed for three days while Durham County Council’s highways staff applied micro-asphalt to repair the crumbling surface.

However, even before road markings were redrawn, the surface was dug up by Northumbrian Water.

And last week, council staff were back in the street carrying out further work.

One King Street resident said: “Would it not have made more sense for the road to be resurfaced after all the work had been carried out?

“Has the been a lack of communication here?”

Brian Buckley, Durham County Council’s strategic highway manager, said: “We surfaced this road back in June, but since then Northumbrian Water have undertaken work to install a water supply for a customer.

“We understand the disruption this can cause to local residents, and we do put a restriction on utility companies carrying out major works on a street for 12 months after surfacing.

“However, we are unable to prevent these works when a utility company has to fulfil its obligations for a customer service. This was the case with the recent work carried out by Northumbrian Water.”

The council said staff had returned to King Street last week to adjust man holes and service boxes to the new level of the road surface.

King Street residents have been subject to disruption for the past two years, firstly with the full closure and then partial blockage of the road due to the redevelopment of the former Teesdale District Council offices into houses and flats.

This scheme was completed in July and the properties are now being marketed. However, more disruption could be on the way for residents. Durham County Council granted planning permission in December 2015 for the former commercial garage in the street to be demolished and two three-storey properties built in its place. Under the terms of the planning permission, work must begin on the scheme by December 2018.