A PAVEMENT is to be dug up by an energy company just weeks after the county council poured more than �10,000 of public money into having it resurfaced. Fuming residents on Gold Street, Saffron Walden, have been sent a letter by EDF Energy informing them t

A PAVEMENT is to be dug up by an energy company just weeks after the county council poured more than �10,000 of public money into having it resurfaced.

Fuming residents on Gold Street, Saffron Walden, have been sent a letter by EDF Energy informing them that their newly improved pavement would be "excavated" to lay new power cables.

Owner of Ickleton Antiques, Brian Arbery, said: "This is a complete waste of public money and a real inconvenience to businesses and residents on Gold Street.

"The pavement was getting knocked about and could have been dangerous so it needed to be resurfaced, but I don't understand why they couldn't have spoken to the utility company and had the work done at the same time."

Essex County Council (ECC) completed the relaying of the pavements on both sides of Gold Street on February 26 at a cost of �10,800.

"It is our procedure to let the utility companies know of our planned works at least three weeks in advance," said an ECC spokesman.

"In this case we were not notified of EDF Energy's requirements to carry out work until early March."

However, the energy company has maintained that it "works closely" with ECC Highways to agree the timing of the works.

An EDF spokesman said: "As part of this improvement, our engineers need to excavate a stretch of pavement in Gold Street to install a new section of underground electricity cable.

"Once this work is complete we will reinstate the pavement following guidelines set by the New Roads and Street Works Act.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this work but hope that residents will understand the long term benefits for the area."

The work will begin on Monday June 1 and is due to last for four weeks.

Owner of Walden Models, George Wombwell, said: "In this economic climate it's appalling that money can be wasted like this. We will end up paying for it through out taxes and energy bills.