Salisbury Road in High Barnet is on its third episode of resurfacing following the rerouting of the 384 bus reports David Floyd

A road flooded with water with houses in the background. — Salisbury Road in High Barnet earlier this week – (Credit – Georgina Sanders)

Residents of a Barnet street accused Barnet Council of “extreme mismanagement” this week after their road was left flooded following resurfacing work.

Locals in Salisbury Road in High Barnet set up a petition demanding action from the council after “enduring extreme disruption” following the rerouting of the 384 bus along the road in 2020 culminating in the latest ongoing works.

They say that since the decision to run the bus along the road, it has been unsuccessfully resurfaced twice necessitating more extensive works this autumn.

Residents were told that the current works would begin on October 30th and be completed by November 3rd but they were still ongoing this week.

The impact of the ongoing works and subsequent flooding have included: lack of parking and access for deliveries and emergency vehicles, powercuts and interrupted water supply, and lack of safe crossing for children.

Salisbury Road resident Georgina Sanders told Barnet Post: “They have extended the completion date 4 times and it feels there is no end in sight.”

She added: “Apart from all the obvious dangers and inconveniences, it is a major assault on all residents’ mental health and we are all becoming increasingly anxious by the day as Barnet Council continues to destroy our road, our wellbeing and our lives.”

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers visited Salisbury Road on Friday to talk to local residents.

MP Theresa Villiers, in a light brown bobble hat, talking to a group of three people in Salisbury Road in High Barnet as others look on. — Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers talking to residents in Salisbury Road on Friday – (Credit – Georgina Sanders)

In response to residents’ claims, Barnet Council said that they had done their best to keep residents informed about the works by hand-delivering letters and posting information on signs and lampposts – while officers had also made themselves available onsite to answer residents’ questions.

A spokesperson told Barnet Post: “We appreciate that the works on Salisbury Road may be causing some disruption to residents, and we are very hopeful that these will be completed by Sunday 26 November 2023.

“As part of our ongoing improvements to Barnet’s highways and pathways, this work is a full carriageway reconstruction rather than simply resurfacing. Unfortunately, the vibration from the machinery necessary to do this work has caused some of the aged water pipes to leak.

“Our staff are working with the road resurfacing and water contractors to find a permanent solution to this.”

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