The Times Series has been inundated with complaints over the quality of a new road surface which motorists say is damaging their cars.

We are now challenging Barnet Council over the quality of its roadworks, which people say is “appalling, disgusting and a waste of money.”

Under the new ‘surface dressing’ method, 200 roads were coated with tar and covered with chippings – but pieces end up stuck in tyres and scrape cars.

It cost the council £6m, but they have pledged to spend up to £50m on improving the roads by 2020.

The new method is supposed waterproof the roads, making them less prone to potholes and adding around 15 years to their life span.

But having driven over a cascade of loose chippings and navigating an obstacle course of potholes on the roads ourselves, we understand just what our readers are talking about. Residents in Edgware, Finchley, Whetstone and Hendon told us they have had enough.

It has made a mess of their streets and as traffic trundles over the pieces of grit, it scrapes their cars, and often ends up in their homes.

Surely, all of these complaints prove it just does not work?

 

Most recently, firefighter John Stylianou, of Northumberland Road, Whetstone, said four potholes in the area outside his house appeared after the road was resurfaced in the summer.

He said: “It’s like a child has done it. It’s not acceptable. It is like the road is disintegrating – we had one or two potholes before but nothing like it is now.

“Five months later, there are still loose chippings everywhere. My neighbours with wooden floors are up in arms about the grit coming in to their houses.

“It is damaging cars and people say it is worse than before.”

Despite repeated attempts to meet with the council to come to a solution, he says his requests have been ignored.

He added: “I am completely frustrated. My biggest concern is they have wasted our money.”

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Daniela Boyce, of Long Lane, North Finchley, said: “Nothing has been done with proper thought – it is appalling.”

In Hillersdon Avenue, Edgware, neighbours lodged a petition with the council earlier this month, calling for “heads to roll” and compensation.

Over in Hendon, Ben Cohen, of Shirehall Lane, said in July: “Had they come and tarred it and done it properly, no one would have complained, but there was mess everywhere. It has been very slapdash, and has not been nicely done. It is a shame.”

The council says it received 500 enquiries about the roads, but could not elaborate on how many of these were complaints.

We spoke to Cllr Dean Cohen, the Conservative chairman of Barnet Council’s environment committee.

He admitted the treatment “failed” in two roads in the borough and work had been re-done – one in Childs Hill, although he was unsure of the other.

He added: “The treatment is more to prevent the road from declining – to give it extra life.

“I don’t think it will cost the council more than originally planned. In a way, it has done what it says on the tin because it is meant to seal the roads.

“But at the same time, I am concerned regarding the residents’ feedback, it appears this particular surface is not resident friendly. We have to take into account how it has impacted on them.”

The environment committee will decide in January whether to carry it out again.

Cllr Cohen said he had asked for a report from officers on “what lessons have been learnt and what could be done differently”.

A Barnet Council spokesman said: “Working with our partners, Re, we aim to strike the right balance between fixing problems as they arise and spending money on our roads to make them more robust for the future.

“We’re aware of problems raised by some residents, and are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. We will continue to work to remedy any of the issues that have arisen and make sure lessons have been learned for the future.”