Driveway Roadworks Issue

[sandw0rm]

Hello,

I've been in contact with the highways agency and they have advised me to process a complaint with yourselves with regards to current road works in our street, on the 24 of december after many phone calls from street residents about the smell of gas in the street the Southern Gas Networks company dug up out side our house and left it in a complete state meaning we could not enter our property via the gate and had to go through our drive, then on the 27th of December they returned after the smell of gas became over powering and evacuated us from the property.

They dug up the road even further partially blocking the drive way and then left it like this for a week before returning on the 4th of January to begin digging up the road for its gas works, during this time they continually have blocked our access to the property including the drive. As we are unable to park on our drive it has resulted in damage to one of our cars (a smashed wing mirror) and despite numerous messages asking for the drive to be left unblocked as parking in that area is a nightmare at the best of times they have gone ignored.

Last wednesday I received a voice mail stating that the drive would be unaccessible for a couple of days and after 5 days we are still not able to park on our drive, what is more worrying is that the hole has filled with water which is overflowing onto our drive.

I am not sure what you can do about this issue.

any advice greatly appreciated.

[buildersmate]

Here's a novel situation!
Are you expecting to comment on this - as a draft letter to send to the offending utility? - or are you somehow of the belief that AnswerBank has such a reputation these days that it can sort this issue out directly?

[sandw0rm]

Was trying to explain the situation not write a letter, sorry I bothered now.

[buildersmate]

I think you will find that, in an emergency roadworks situation, the various bodies that might have reason to dig up the road do not have a legal obligation to ensure that you can access your house by car. Whilst you can try and claim that damage to your car is their responsibility, I don't reckon it will wash - you could have found a variety of alternative places to park it - some safer but less convenient to you.
I take it that after the original emergency repair, they now wish to come back and do the repair job properly. For that they would normally give you notice - as they have done.
If the job isn't being complted in the timescal indicated, phone the local council (who are probably managing the job - but not the contractor) and ask to speak to highways, report your concerns and get a commitment for how long the job will take.
Complaints that could involve a claim for compensation will have to be put in writing.

[chattykathy]

I have had a very similiar situation but it was with the National Grid. We had a gas leak and were unable to access our drive but a kindly neighbour let me use theirs. It seems the NG have a 'highly trained specialist' for every tiny job. For example one team to look into the two holes, another team to make one of the holes bigger, another team to fill in one of the holes, another team to fill in the other hole, another team to tarmac 1st hole, another team to replace block paving and finally a team to take away the barriers ! All this took 6 weeks! Honestly!! I have made an official complaint to NG but don't expect any response. What a load of plonkers!

[northernmonkey]

Sandworm -

I have only had a quick look at your explanation/letter.

I am presuming that you have already sent the email?

But if I was you, I would save this letter as a Word doc. It may come in use again!!!