I vaguely remember tuning into radio Sheffield in the works van {circa 2011} to the news that basically every street/road in Sheffield was to be re surfaced and I'm almost positive they said it would take 5 years to complete.
I now learn that "phase 1" is complete and they are now beginning "phase 2" so I have obviously missed something, as nowadays I very rarely listen to radio Sheffield {or visit Sheffield} since I stopped work.
I was given to understand it would ALL take 5 years {so finish in 2016/2017} and I would imagine quite a few other people were given that impression too.
Either way how is it that large tasks, Nationally and locally that need to be done, i.e. Olympics, motorways, rail upgrades, road surfacing etc. never seem to be costed correctly and always, but always overrun.
If you get an estimate to say re-point your chimney, the guy says yes it will take me 2 days and the cost is £250 and everyone is in agreement. Then it takes him a fortnight and your presented with a bill for £1000 you wouldn't be very happy, and rightly so.
Yet Government and local council schemes end up like the above all the time, and we as the taxpayer are just expected to accept it.
The only thing I do feel sorry for Sheffield council over is the tree felling that needs to be done, I don't want to get into who's right and who's wrong, but having spent a good few years delivering in and around Sheffield I've seen first hand the state of some of those trees and what they've done to the pavements and roads, there are a lot that are in a bad state no question, so my answer to those tree huggers is if they prevent the council from chopping down {a legitimately dangerous tree} then the council should wash it's hands of that particular highways upkeep in short "You want the trees you've got them, but any damage they cause will be met by the residents of that road, the council will not entertain any claims arising from injury directly as a result of the condition of the trees".
Well if I was on the council that's what I'd say.