Monday, July 14, 2008

Open And Shut, Then Open And Shut, Then Open And Shut Again Case

Well blow me! Just when you thought the twelve years of roadworks in Margate's Old Town were finally done and dusted, they go and dig it all up again! I'm told they put the finishing touches on the streets round there at midnight last Friday, but were back today because (I kid you not) some twonk forgot to install the speed humps. Talk about an army of duffers. Do Kent Highways give out awards for incompetence or what?!?!

Whatever the latest completion date is it'll be too late for the businesses that have gone bust waiting for the place to get back to normal. They were originally promised it would be all over by Easter. A bit like WW1 being over by Christmas, I suppose. Still, at least Sandy and Co's cafe-cultured mates will be happy with the lovely new, outdoor seating areas created by the super-duper extended pavements!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You may be interested to know that the KCC director of highways is none other than the ex MD of failed train operator Connex. He was move by Connex in an attempt to keep the franchise. It was taken away early. Long suffering commuters will remember him well, its just that in recent times he has dropped the double barrel part of his name. Google and press reports were not kind to him. In a recent KCC webcast of the highways board even a tory kcc member (Whitstable) was not happy with the Highways dept.

Anonymous said...

Does anybody hold Kent Highways to account? These works have taken an outrageous amount of time, the end result is of no benefit to anyone and the standard of workmanship is atrocious. Heads should roll, but it seems we just accept this type of thing as the norm.

Peter C said...

It's ridiculous that this has happened at the same time as the road narrowing near the police station (& which has also ran over-budget & over-time!).

Anonymous said...

Perfect timing for the council to help their developer chums to have even more empty properties to choose from?

or perhaps;

A little bit of extra help for the councils chums at Westwood Cross during an economic downturn?

or even maybe;

A serious attempt at regenerating Margate Old Town.

One of these comments is facetious.

Anonymous said...

A surgeons view

Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There's no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and there are only two moving parts, the mouth and the asshole - and they are interchangeable..'

Anonymous said...

Actually it is how you lay speed bumps. First you lay the tarmac and then you dig up where they will go and put them in. It sounds weird but that's how they do it!

Richard Eastcliff said...

Um. OK. My apologies then to KCC and the Hump Grind Band!

Anonymous said...

Will they be performing at Broadstairs Folk Week?

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh how supine!!