TRAFFIC chaos has ensued in Richmond this month after two separate periods of a town centre road being dug up by two utility companies.

North Yorkshire County Council has authorised electric and gas works outside Swale House in Frenchgate to take place less than two weeks apart – but it has caused problems for motorists because of traffic light-controlled works continuing in Station Bridge and Longwood Bank leading into Catterick Garrison.

Cllr Stuart Parsons, said the first set of works caused chaos when the barriers cordoning off the hole in the pavement blew away, forcing traffic onto the opposite pavement to get into Richmond Market Place.

He said: “Earlier this month the electricity company dug up the road and pavement for the first time, did the work, filled in the hole and put the paving slabs back – only for the same area to be dug up again just a week later by the gas company.

“The second disruption has been made worse by them installing traffic lights on Station Road which now means drivers have lights there and at Station Bridge, which is partly closed due to structural damage.

“I am afraid it is completely unacceptable that NYCC grant permission to two companies to dig up the same stretch on week after another.”

Cllr Parsons said weekend closures of the A1 had also added to the congestion in that area of town, causing a lot of frustration among businesses who felt they had been let down.

He said a disabled parking had also been taken up by the work, which is a vital space for elderly people attending a busy footcare clinic in Frenchgate.

He said: “If the works had been co-ordinated so separate holes didn’t have to be dug, it wold have taken a lot less time and would have been a smoother transition.

“There isn’t actually any need for the lights to be there at the gas works because there weren’t any when the electricity board were working.

“It is causing chaos during the half term holiday so it is not a brilliant welcome to Richmond.”

Cllr Parsons said he has contacted the executive member for highways at North Yorkshire County Council who had pledged to tackle the problem. He has also contact the Richmond area highways office. The authority has been approached for comment.