Replacing a fire hydrant cover!?!

[Ian_W]

Whilst out walking the dog, I noticed the cover in the pavement to the fire hydrant was broken, leaving a hole which anyone could have fallen down. This had clearly been caused by people driving over it.

 

So doing by duty, I reported it.

 

1. Essex County Council send out a man in a van in the evening to place a cone over it in the evening

2. Several days later a gang turn up from an outside company and remove the cover, then dig up the pavement and remove the casing inside the hole, where the cover sat, creating a much larger hole.

3. A week later another gang from yet another company arrive and replace the entire casing and put a new lid on the hole, at least they were able to tarmac the pavement again.

 

However as it is now black, I assume we will have yet another gang come out and paint it yellow to conform with regulations, otherwise the fire service will not find it in an emergency (probably due to someone else parking over it!)

 

Why couldn't someone just come along with a new cover already painted yellow and put it in place? Or is this far too simple?

 

What has this cost us as tax payers to Essex County Council?

 

Answers on a postcard......

[Big J R]

Sounds about par for the course, Ian !!

 

 

 

 

 

[Burnham Lad]

That sounds remarkably efficient to me.

 

In the bad weather before Christmas, a vehicle skidded on a bend and took out the wall and a street light near where I live. In front of the damage, by coincidence is a sink hole in the pavement (one of those holes which appears, it is filled in , reappears, is filled in etc etc) Despite numerous complaints the street light is still in its accident black and yellow, the poor pensioner whose wall was demolished cannot get it repaired until the light is replaced and in the meantime her garden disappears into the road every time it rains whilst the sinkhole gets deeper and deeper............it has been reported with monotonous regularity. Perhaps you could send some guys from Essex over?

[Arron_M]

I agree it would be far more easier to just send one person out to put a new cover on. But thats the council for you always looking for ways to spend excessive amounts of money.

[Ian_W]

Had another van come out yesterday to check the work - still awaiting for someone to come and paint it yellow.....

 

And they are just the vans / people that we have spotted.