SOME residents in Stretham didn t get a wink of sleep this weekend as road contractors used noisy machinery to repair roads outside their homes throughout the night. Cambridgeshire Highways at the county council has admitted that the work could have been

SOME residents in Stretham didn't get a wink of sleep this weekend as road contractors used noisy machinery to repair roads outside their homes throughout the night.

Cambridgeshire Highways at the county council has admitted that the work could have been done better and apologised for the loud drilling and resurfacing on the A10/A1123 roundabout. According to a schedule issued by the Highways Department, contractors were only allowed to work up until midnight from Friday through to Sunday.

But Tony Goodchild, who lives close to A10, told the Ely Standard that he could hear the contractors in the early hours of the morning.

"The noise was absolutely horrendous and went on all night," he said.

"Jackhammers were drilling away and heavy machinery was used to tarmac the road - it didn't seem to stop.

"Nobody who lives along here had any sleep all weekend and we weren't warned that roadworks would be carried out overnight.

"I was absolutely shattered on Monday morning and felt like I hadn't had a break."

Mr Goodchild approached the workers about the noise levels and complained about the work to the county council on Saturday afternoon.

"We were originally told the works would be carried out during the day and that hardly happened," he added.

"I understand work needs to be done but there was absolutely no consideration for residents."

Mr Goodchild, his wife, Karen, and their children, Courtney and Adam, as well as other residents who live along the road hardly slept.

The scheme was part of improvements taking place on East Cambridgeshire roads during the summer holidays, costing almost £500,000.

Richard Preston, head of network for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "We apologise for the delays and intrusion that this scheme created and have made the contractor aware of our strong views about the timing of their works.

"The contractors works over-ran on Friday and we are investigating with them how this happened.

"The resurfacing of this busy roundabout is vital and difficult on such a busy junction. However, there are things that could and should have been done better."

Pic cap:

Photo: HELEN DRAKE.