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from the Hull Daily Mail/East Riding Mail Friday, August 1

Angry residents today claimed their homes were more at risk of flooding after city council contractors tarmacked over a number of gullies in Beverley Road.

The error happened while workmen were resurfacing a stretch near the Endike Lane junction in north Hull, leaving homeowners outraged by “shoddy workmanship”.

Although the majority of the work has been completed satisfactorily, five consecutive gullies have been blocked on a 100-yard stretch. Two of them are located outside Tracey Birkley’s house.

The 35-year-old sales assistant said: “I can’t believe the council has done this. They have put a lot of people at risk over something that could have been easily avoided.

“The rest of the road has been done properly, so why have they messed this part up?

“The kerbs here aren’t very high, so the homes could be at risk if we get some heavy rain.”

Mrs Birkley has three children, Ashleigh, 17, Elliott, 14, and Noah, 15 months, and lives with her husband Paul, who was also angry about what had happened.

The 38-year-old post office manager said: “We didn’t flood last year, so the last thing we want is the council blocking drains and maybe causing floods themselves.

“If we get heavy rain and the area $residents here could face bigger insurance premiums because of something the council has done.

“I have many friends who were forced out of their homes last year because of flooding and I vowed I wouldn’t move house because I thought we were safe here.”

One resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “After last year’s flooding in the area it is disgusting the council has done such a thing.”

After being contacted by the Mail, the council has said it will arrange for contractors to remove excess chippings blocking the gullies.

Graham Brookes, Hull City Council’s Streetscene services project design team leader, said: “In the preparation of road surface dressing, drains and gullies are covered while work is carried out so excess tar and chippings don’t block them.

“On this isolated occasion, it appears this gully has not been covered. The contractors will remove any excess chippings and tar as a matter of priority.”

In Thwaite Street, Cottingham, resurfacing work has also covered a number of gullies on both sides of the road.

In some instances the new road covering is up against the kerb-stones, completely blocking the gullies.

A spokesman from East Riding Council said: “The gullies and man-hole covers have been covered up as a temporary measure to prevent chippings and loose stones from going in and causing a blockage. “Once the application has dried enough, they will be uncovered.”

The council said the gullies would be uncovered either last night or first thing today.

Hull City Council www.hullcc.gov.uk

East Riding Council www.eastriding.gov.uk