‘Butchering’ claims over cobbled Victorian street repairs in Preston

Some of the tarmac which has been put in between the cobbles in Wellington Street

A Preston homeowner has accused road workers of ‘butchering’ his cobbled street.

Paul Morris who lives in Wellington Street said its long-complained about cobbled road is being ‘left to deteriorate’ by Lancashire County Council.

The road, near the University of Central Lancashire campus, is lined to one side by grade-II listed early-Victorian period townhouses.

It’s also home to the converted St Mark’s Church.

Mr Morris said he had first written to the county council more than two years ago about the state of the cobbled street.

Workers arrived in recent days and have filled in missing cobbles with tarmac.

Wellington Street is lined with period properties

Mr Morris said: “I didn’t mean for them to send contractors two years later to come and bodge the job. Residents take great care of their properties and are not allowed to make alterations without seeking permission due to the Grade 2 listing.

“It makes a mockery of the listing system if the council are allowed to remove the original cobbles and patch up with tarmac, a temporary fix at best. The whole road has become practically unusable, with weeds and grass growing out of every gap, forcing the cobbles loose.

“It is long-overdue for repair, and the repairs should be sympathetic to the area and with conservation in mind.”

A formal complaint has been submitted to the county council – and Mr Morris said workmen appeared on Thursday (22 March) to replace the tarmac and put in new cobbles.

He added: “The road is still in horrendous shape though.”

Blog Preston contacted Lancashire County Council for comment but received no response.