by Rebecca Hannant
Withernsea is to benefit from a £481,000 road and path improvement scheme.
East Riding Council will upgrade road and path surfaces on the A1033 Hollym Road and Queen Street in the town.
About 2,000 tonnes of road material will be used in the project, which will be carried out in three phases from October to January, between the Tesco roundabout and the Willows Holiday Park.
The work will begin on Monday, October 7, and will involve making improvements to the footpath, kerbing and surface drainage along the route. The phase is expected to last up to eight weeks, and temporary traffic lights will be in place during the works.
Phase two will involve road resurfacing work and is scheduled to be carried out on Hollym Road from Wednesday, December 4.
The work will be carried out over five evenings, from 6pm to midnight, under a temporary road closure. A signed diversion will be in place via the B1362 to Weghill Road, Preston, to Saltend roundabout. Bus services will be diverted using Holmpton Road as an alternative route.
The road will be reopened after each evening, allowing for normal traffic during the day.
Phase three road resurfacing is due to be carried out on Queen Street and Hollym Road from Westfield Rise towards the Willows Holiday Park, from December 12-20.
After Christmas, the work is due to resume from January 6-21. The scheme, which will be carried out by the council’s own road maintenance team, will take place during the daytime under temporary traffic lights.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Thanks to residents and drivers in advance for bearing with us while we carry out work in this area. Improving these roads and paths is essential to benefit the community.”
However, despite the necessity of the upgrade, residents have expressed concerns about the impact the road closures will have on people trying to access Withernsea and nearby villages.
In early September, the area was affected by a burst water main, resulting in a full road closure for several days. Businesses said they lost passing trade, while a lengthy diversion meant residents struggled to access the town’s facilities.
South East Holderness ward councillors Sean McMaster, Lyn Healing and Jon Dimberline have acknowledged people’s concerns, and say they will monitor the situation to ensure that the works cause as little disruption as possible.
Cllr McMaster said: “We are pleased to see that the council has put forward this proposal for highway upgrades in Withernsea. We understand that this is a main route of travel for many residents either by car or public transport. So, both Cllr Healing and I have reached out to officers at East Riding Council to seek assurances that these works will cause as little disruption as possible.”
While Cllr Dimberline said he was pleased to see the upgrade, he said other roads in Withernsea needed urgent attention, including North Road. He said that several of the pathways had become cracked and overgrown, while potholes and cracks have formed on the road. Grass verges have also sunk, leading them to become waterlogged in wet weather.
Cllr Dimberline has contacted the highways team who are looking into hardening the verges for parking and conducting repairs to the road and kerbs.
He said the highways team was now looking into the situation as well as areas of funding to potentially carry out the work.
He added: “My requests have been listened to and, setting aside budget issues, they are trying to do something.
“My communications with highways are always very supportive given the restraints and number of problems they must deal with.
“They come in for a lot of stick and have a huge workload to cover, and I want to be a councillor that supports them, and not a person that berates or slates them.”