Sudden road closure Main Street

East Keswick Parish Council has complained to Leeds Highways and Yorkshire Water about the sudden unannounced road closure on Main Street. We understand these were fro emergency repairs to a sewer but we had no advance warning and neither did the bus company which sent early buses on the route only to have to turn them round.

Alongside Leeds ward councillors we complained to Leeds Highways and have had the following reply:

Firstly, we do fully understand how a road closure here affects the village

If this had been planned works then we could have worked with Yorkshire Water to ensure that, if a closure was indeed required, then it was implemented at the most appropriate time and that adequate warning and communications were given to affected residents/businesses , buses, Cllrs etc so that alternative arrangements could be made

It would appear that these are emergency works being carried out by Yorkshire Water to repair a damaged sewer and will have instructed their contractor accordingly

Companies don’t have to seek approval from Leeds Highways to carry out emergency works – or indeed implement an emergency road closure – but they must inform us, by submission of a street works permit within 2 hours of the works starting.

We received their emergency permit yesterday morning at 09:50 with a five day duration

Their proposed end date was the 27th Sept however the Highways team immediately challenged the duration down to 3 days which Yorkshire Water have since accepted.

We have had confirmation this morning that the work should be completed by tomorrow and the road opened once the tarmac has cured

It’s is disappointing that the information that you have received from Yorkshire Water is not consistent with the reality here – this isn’t acceptable in my opinion

It would appear that both East Keswick PC and LCC Highways have been left dealing with public complaints on behalf of Yorkshire Water because of their , seemingly, poor customer service

All too often , the private utility companies that carry works in Leeds will sit blissfully unaware of the affect their works are having on residents/businesses as their complaints are directed towards LCC and the local community Town and Parish Council officers instead

I will be writing to Yorkshire Water to find out what has gone wrong here but I strongly suggest that the Ward Cllrs and East Keswick PC do the same – I am sure their own ‘customer service’ team would very interested to hear of their own customers’ experiences and thoughts on the matter