Concerns over dust 'like fog' on resurfaced bypass

Residents living near a major dual carriageway in Leicestershire have raised concerns after resurfacing work created dust "like a fog".

The work was recently completed on the A6 Mountsorrel bypass, between Granite Way and Broadnook, to prevent potholes.

Parish councillor Liz Blackshaw said the "unacceptable" level of dust was "making it very difficult to breathe", and said hundreds of complaints included accidents and chips damaging cars.

Leicestershire County Council admitted there was "more dust than usual" due to the "very hot, dry conditions", but reassured people the road would be swept daily until the new surface settled in a "short time".

Blackshaw, who is also a Charnwood borough councillor, said in one week alone she received an "exceptionally high number of complaints" about the roadworks on the bypass.

The 55-year-old said people had complained about chips damaging paintwork and cracking the windscreens of their cars.

"They are also reporting a number of minor accidents and near misses resulting from cars travelling too fast and skidding," she said.

Blackshaw said she had personally struggled, adding: "I have severe asthma myself and I'm finding it very difficult to breathe, particularly as I need to have windows open to cool the house down in this heat.

"I have asked that [Leicestershire County Council] take urgent action to address residents' concerns, including dampening the surface and sweeping up the large volume of chippings which have now formed."

James Lant said his windscreen was cracked by a stone chip on Wednesday while travelling to work in Loughborough.

"I was driving along, keeping with the flow of the traffic, with a distance with the car in front, but then a lorry came flying by, flicked up lots of stones and one hit my screen," he said.

"The crack gradually got bigger and now it's across the windscreen. I've only had the car two months so I'm not very happy.

"I don't understand why they are using this technique on such a busy road.

"There seems to be no rush in getting the road sweepers to clear the excess stones off the road," he added.

The 65-year-old, who got married last week, had planned a weekend away with his wife, but said he was forced to cancel as the damage could not be repaired until next week.

Lant said it would cost him an excess of £134 to fix it through his insurance, which he hoped to claim from the county council.

Graham Pirt, who lives across the fields from the road, said: "During the laying of the surface, because of the weather conditions, the dust was like a fog.

"We live 300 yards from the road and the car is covered in a white dust.

"It's immeasurably worse than the [Mountsorrel] quarry dust."

The 78-year-old said he drove along the road after the roadworks had been completed, adding: "There were chippings flying everywhere.

"It was like a fog in the air, you couldn't see to the next roundabout.

"I have a number of tiny chips on the bonnet of my car."

A spokesperson for the county council said surface dressing work was carried out to "help protect the road and prevent potholes".

"But on this occasion, we are aware this has caused disruption and we understand how frustrating it's been for people living nearby and using the route," they said.

"This type of treatment seals the surface, improves grip and stops water getting in, helping the road last longer and reducing the need for more disruptive repairs later.

"We carry this surface dressing out in warmer summer months as the dry conditions help the new surface set and bond properly.

"Some people may have noticed more dust than usual.

"In these very hot, dry conditions that can happen for a short time while the new surface settles, this will ease.

"We've been sweeping the road daily and will continue to do so this week to help clear as soon as possible."

The authority advised motorists to abide by the temporary 10mph (16km/h) advisory speed limit in place and leave extra space between vehicles to "help everything bed in more quickly".

"We'd like to thank residents for their patience and understanding," it added.

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