TAXPAYERS’ money has been wasted as resurfacing work along a key road in Trowbridge has not been done properly, claims a local resident.

For several weeks in May and June, works on West Ashton Road, from its junction with the A361 County Way for just over a kilometre to the roundabout where it meets Leapgate, were meant to repair substantial rutting and cracking.

Just before the works began, Phillip Withers, whose Clarendon Road home is off West Ashton Road, wrote to Cllr Bridget Wayman, the cabinet member for highways, transport and waste, saying just resurfacing would not be enough and there was an urgent need to repair surface damage, sub-base damage and surface re-levelling.

Since the work has been carried out, Mr Withers says the section from the Leapgate roundabout to the Broadcloth Lane roundabout is showing serious signs of deterioration, bumps and unevenness.

“At the end of the day, it is local tax payer money and it has not been done properly,” he said.

“It is a waste of time and money if they are not going to do it properly. It is sub five out of 10. Parts of the road are almost as bad as they were before. This is wasting taxpayer money.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We have already discussed the issues with the surfacing at West Ashton Road with our contractor. I can confirm that there were structural repairs to the carriageway. The unusual early indications of failure may well be associated with underlying ground conditions and the weather this summer. We will monitor the extent of the damage, and review it now the weather is returning to normal before asking our contractor to carry out remedial work.”