TARMAC resurfacing of a quaint street in Knutsford has been condemned as an ‘absolute disgrace’.

Malt Street, a walking route into the town centre, was given a new layer of tarmac this week.

Businesses and residents claim the tarmac hadn’t set properly and has ‘ruined shoes’.

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Barista Mark Lee-Kilgariff, owner of award-winning Tatton Perk, has a coffee shop on the street.

He said: “It’s disgusting. The tarmac is so thin it is already lifting off. It hasn’t set.

 

“It's a crying shame that the street isn't given more respect.

“This is the main route to the beautiful Moor Park.

“To have an obscene lump of tarmac sticking to the bottom of people’s shoes is vandalism as far as I’m concerned.

“This is a disgracefully wasted opportunity.”

Jonty Page, a fruit and vegetable stall owner from Knutsford Market Hall, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace, sheer vandalism.

“All true Knutsfordians should be so upset. Let’s stand up and fight for our town.”

Alison Cunliffe, owner of The Real Fruit Creamery, home to hand-crafted fresh gelato, said: “I think it would be lovely to have all the cobbles back and restore the history of this street.

“I realise that would be costly but it would be far prettier.

“I am very proud of my business and love what I do.”

Residents took to social media to vent their anger.

One person described the work as ‘cheap as chips’.

Another woman said she was ‘appalled’ by what they had done to this walkway.

“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” she posted.

It is understood that the street had been cordoned off whilst the work was carried out.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: “This was a micro-asphalt treatment, which is an efficient method for sealing the road surface and filling cracks and defects.

“This prevents the ingress of water and the risk of potholes forming in future.

“The treatment is part of our asset management approach where we utilise different treatments depending on the condition of the road or footway, to extend and preserve the life of the road or footway.

“The treatment was carried out at night with coned off areas and our team remained on site while the micro-asphalt cured and was safe to walk on.

“We also gave advanced notice to the public and local councillors about the nature of this work through information notices posted on site and delivered to local residents and businesses.

“This gave details of the treatment, how its appearance will change over time, also advising people not to walk on it until it had cured.

“As part of our usual inspection process, we will visit the site in a few weeks and, if any defects are identified, these will be actioned.”