ANGRY neighbours are calling for “heads to roll” over Barnet Council’s "damaging" road resurfacing work.

The authority has been carrying out a new method over the past few months, which involves coating the road with tar and then covering it with chippings.

Once these are embedded into the road by drivers, the council returns to sweep the area clean of any loose chippings.

But residents across the borough say loose grit has damaged their cars and got into their homes.

People living in Hillersdon Avenue, Edgware have submitted a petition to the council calling for a complete resurfacing of their road, and compensation for people affected.

Myk Tucker, who launched the petition, said: “We are calling for heads to roll – for decision making, for policy making, and for the monitoring of this borough-wide resurfacing procedure. We have been left out on a limb for three months.

“Everyone is ducking and diving and blaming everyone else. This is absolutely disgusting, it is disgraceful. What would satisfy us is we need to see some heads rolling on this. It is such a pathetic policy. It is really unbelievable.

“We need it properly resurfaced, and they need to jettison this whole process. There are so many stones flying around. Grit has drifted all into the front gardens. If they had done a proper job then there’s less chance of that having happened.”

Mr Tucker said he questioned whether the work actually needed to be carried out.

He said: “If it didn’t need doing in the first place, why did they spend millions doing this job, which will obviously end up costing a lot more in the long run? It just grinds the surface away, more stones get loose, and vehicles are marked. It will still need redoing.

“It has done more damage because it has upset the community at large. This is a very bad public relations exercise.”

People living in Lodge Lane, North Finchley told the Times Series in September the new method was a “waste of money”.

Times Series: Helena Price, Daniela Boyce, Judy Veal and Sebnem Oz

Residents of Lodge Lane, North Finchley survey the road

Labour councillors have called for a review of the work, which received cross-party support at the environment committee last night (November 10).

The party’s environment spokesman, Councillor Alan Schneiderman, said: "We've had so many complaints from residents about the problems caused by this cheaper way of resurfacing roads. I'm glad that there is agreement that the council will look again at how this work is carried out.

“The state of our roads and pavements is the top concern of residents according to the council’s own residents' perception survey, so the Tories really must do better to make Barnet's roads and pavements safer.”

A council spokesman said: “The council will consider any resident petition based on its merits. This petition from Hillersdon Avenue residents will be heard at the Hendon Area Committee meeting in the new year.

“Residents have made it clear that improving roads and pavements in the borough is a top priority and that is why we are committed to a £50m investment programme over the coming years.

"We are listening to feedback from residents and working with our partners to make improvements to the programme going forward.”