Workmen fixing burst pipe in Newport verbally abused and motorists driving on pavement to get past, say police
Engineers working to fix a mains pipe in Newport have been verbally abused by angry motorists, a police officer said.
Pranksters have also moved closure and diversion signs to point drivers in the wrong way and spread confusion.
Part of Wellington Road has been closed this week after a pipe that supplies the whole of the town with water burst.
Severn Trent Water engineers have been working to repair it and the pipe is now fixed, though other problems mean the road will not reopen until tomorrow afternoon at least.
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Those engineers have been subjected to "negative" comments by motorists who try to flout the road closure and drive around it on the pavement, said PC Lee Thomas of the Newport Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Unknown people also surreptitiously moved the diversion signs last night or this morning, causing confusion for drivers.
PC Thomas said: "We've received a few reports from residents complaining about cars trying to go through the closure, going on the pavement to try and get around it.
"They get a surprise when they see this big hole in the road.
"When we were there, there were people trying to get around it. They were quite irate when we asked them to go back.
"People were getting quite negative, making comments to the workmen. Some verbal comments were made to them by the motorists which is unfortunate.
"That's not what the workmen need at all. It's not fair, they're doing what they can. It is what it is.
"We have heard it third-hand but it's along the lines of 'why is it taking so long, I need to get through, why have you closed the road?' – some negativity with how long it's going to take them.
"It's not a two-minute job. It takes as long as it takes for people who know what they're doing to find the problem and fix the problem."
He said that some residents this morning had reported signs being moved around, with some blaming children on their way to school.
Some drivers trying to avoid the closed road have been diverted the wrong way.
PC Thomas said that some of the side streets not actually affected by the burst pipe had been blocked off by the signs and that some signs had simply blown over in the wind, but that they have all been set right.
"It's annoying," he said. "Motorists following the signs have been sent the wrong way.
"I can't believe it. I've corrected them all now.
"Tomorrow is another day."
