BUNGLING council chiefs have been slammed after a road was dug up just 10 days after being resurfaced.

Residents in Earl Street, Great Harwood, were dismayed to see gas engineers tear up the road to carry out routine maintenance work, less than two weeks after new tarmac had been laid.

Residents had campaigned for more than 20 years to have the resurfacing work completed.

Lancashire County Council said that in normal circumstances the road would not be dug up for 12 months and would be investigating the incident.

But Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said the move to resurface roads was blatant electioneering by the Labour-run LCC which feared being ousted at the next election.

Coun Britcliffe said: “This does not surprise me one little bit.

"They are playing silly games and have a policy of ‘tarmac and damn it’ in the run up to the election next year.

“It seems to me that the work is not planned. Hyndburn is a sensitive area in terms of the election because there are seats at risk that could lose them control of the council.”

Residents were equally appalled that the work was being done so soon after the initial resurfacing work.

An Earl Street resident said: “It’s been in need of repair for 20 years because of all the pot holes in the road.

"Finally, when we do get some work done they tear it up again. It’s ridiculous.”

The road was initially resurfaced on October 20.

A LCC spokesman added: “With major schemes we do try wherever possible to co-ordinate works with utility companies to minimise disruptions.

“We do issue notices to the utility companies which prevents them from excavating or resurfacing for twelve months on roads that have just been maintained.

This however does not include work for emergencies or for the provision of essential services.

“Our streetworks engineer will be visiting the site early next week to look into this matter.”