Bath Road Thames Water roadworks: traffic lights, barriers, even a hole in the road but no-one there

Earlier this morning there were traffic lights set up and controlling the flow of traffic around barriers in the road, adjacent to the lane down to Preshute church. It’s a Thames Water set of roadworks. Some problem – a leak? – is in the process of being fixed but so far this morning there is no-one working. But traffic flow is being ‘managed’ by the automatic traffic control system installed.

It’s good that Thames Water are fixing a problem. But not-so-good (and unfortunately, quite common) that the works are being done in stages, with an apparent lack of co-ordination. So whilst the traffic control suppliers have set up the lights, another team has erected barriers, more workers have dug a hole (just a bit larger than one of the many nearby potholes) and that’s it. Maybe someone else will turn up to fix the problem, and then more workers to fill in the hole etc…. What should take a day takes a week. Or in this case five days.

The sign makes clear that it is Thames Water responsible for the works. It also states that they expect to finish on 22 April (next Monday) and they give a phone number to call. Unfortunately that number (an 0800 number) is an emergency line and doesn’t give access to anyone who could advise regarding this ‘works’.

The web address shown is a general service, enabling customers to get in touch with Thames Water regarding most issues, anything, almost, other than the roadworks…. The ‘one.network’ site confirms that the works have been approved for the period 18-22 April.

But the question is, and this can be applied to much of the remedial works carried out by many contractors / Utilities cos, why does it take so long? and why do such works appear to be inactive for most of the approved period? Marlborough.news did attempt get answer from Thames Water regarding these basic questions, but with no success. They (TW) are reliant on the information being presented by the ‘one.network’ system and not able to answer any ‘workflow’ questions, which is what affects us all.