‘Kind’ man offers to fix road
A cobble layer is offering to repair a quaint street covered in thick asphalt by county engineers – for free.
Samlesbury-based Duncan McDonald says he was moved to act after reading in the Evening Post about the plight of those living in cobbled Wellington Street, Ashton.
Residents have signed a petition venting anger at the county council after “cowboy” engineers replaced loose cobbles with “eyesore” thick, black asphalt on a street with Grade II-listed properties.
The authority says the work was needed for safety reasons and hopes to repair the entire stretch with cobbles, though admits it could take up to 12 months and cannot guarantee cobbles will be used.
Now, Mr McDonald, 44, of Cobble Driveways in Goose Foot Lane, Samlesbury, says he can fix the damage in three days for nothing – even though the job would normally cost around 1,500.
He said: “I was taken aback by the story as the council says it could take them a year to do it and there’s people like me who can do it now. I’m offering to do it for free.”
Wellington Street resident Sarah Clifford, 35, said: “What a kind gentleman. It’s brilliant and I hope he can be allowed to do it now.”
Shaun Capper, assistant area manager for Lancashire County Council, said: “Highway repairs have to be carried out by contractors with appropriate competence and accreditation, together with public liability insurance. There is the potential for any company with these to undertake the work.”