Grave concerns have been voiced that an "abysmal" section of road resurfacing in Cheltenham High Street is damaging the spa town's standing.
Cheltenham Civic Society has highlighted worries regarding the procurement, oversight and approval of the resurfacing project on the Strand which was completed earlier this year.
The organisation states that exchanges with Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), following disclosure that the scheme cost £350,000, have revealed what they consider to be fundamental flaws in governance and accountability.
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The Society cautions that taxpayers are bearing the cost for inferior workmanship, whilst the contractor avoids liability for corrective measures under warranty.
Cheltenham Civic Society chairman Andrew Booton said: "Despite clear evidence that the resurfacing has resulted in a far-from-satisfactory finish, GCC's response reveals a dismissive attitude.
"The same officer who designed, specified and oversaw the works also signed them off and authorised payment.
"Because he is satisfied, there is no intention to invoke the warranty to correct what the public can see is a shoddy job. This leaves the public purse exposed to long-term risks without any enforceable protection."
In correspondence addressed to MP Max Wilkinson, highways cabinet member Joe Harris and Councillor Izaac Tailford, the Public Realm cabinet member at Cheltenham Borough Council, the Civic Society outlines primary concerns which they describe as:
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Lack of competitive tendering – The projects were not individually put out to tender but rather allocated under a broad contracting framework, with no evidence that value for money, quality or long-term performance were evaluated.
Due diligence shortfalls – No proof has been furnished that the particular challenges of the Strand were considered when assigning the work.
Poor supervision and conflicting responsibilities – A single officer held responsibility for design, specification, oversight, approval and payment authorisation, creating no independent examination.
Failure to absorb lessons – GCC's finding that "there are no concerns from the designer's perspective" ignores public discontent and risks repeating identical mistakes.
The Civic Society emphasises that urgent corrective measures are vital.
At minimum, they are demanding immediate remedial works under warranty to restore the Strand to an acceptable condition before the guarantee lapses.
The organisation also seeks an independent examination of GCC's procedures to ensure lessons are absorbed, accountability is reinstated and identical failures are not repeated.
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"Immediate action is required to ensure the taxpayers' interest is preserved and the work redone to the expected standard," Mr Booton said.
"Cheltenham needs and deserves high-quality public realm investment. At present, however, an abysmal stretch of highway undermines both the town's reputation and the efforts of many to sustain a thriving town centre."
Lisa Spivey, the leader of Gloucestershire County Council (LD, South Cerney), has said the council acknowledges the significance of historic town centres like Cheltenham's.
Shire Hall is collaborating with Borough colleagues to introduce features that will improve the area.
"We recognise the importance of our historic town centres across the county and the value they add not just in preserving the look and feel of places like Cheltenham, but also the knock-on economic and social benefits," she said.
"The Civic Society have quite rightly raised concerns about the scheme. However, the blunt reality is that their wishes for this project would require a level of investment that isn't affordable for the County and Borough Council at this time.
"The contract was awarded in accordance with our procurement procedures, and we are satisfied that the contractor has followed all the rules, and it has been our job to make sure the work is carried out properly.
"Whilst this may not be the visual appearance we would have liked to have been able to install, the surface is safe and not defective.
"We are working in collaboration with Cheltenham Borough Council on some other features including art installations, benches and planters which will enhance the area.
"We're confident that once these improvement works have been carried out the town centre will remain a thriving place to be."