Seventy-seven roads in Lincolnshire are getting a share of a £700,000 surface dressing roads scheme that starts this month, and while some surrounding towns and villages will welcome the works, Stamford looks set to miss out.

Selected residential roads across Lincolnshire are getting a special road surfacing treatment designed specifically for suburban areas.

Called 'micro-asphalt' the surface treatment is a preventative measure used to seal the existing road surface, improve the texture, improve skid resistance and help water evaporate. 

This type of surface treatment can prolong the life of a road by up to 10 years. The micro-part of the micro-asphalting means using smaller-sized material than would happen on rural road resurfacing. 

These smaller stones and micro-materials are mostly used in residential areas where there's slower moving traffic because it's more resistant to the forces put through the road surface when a vehicle turns into a driveway or around a tight corner.

The work involves applying a base and top layer of slurry to the existing road surface. The treatment acts as liquid when first applied but this dries within 30 minutes and is then ready for traffic. It's a quick, clean process that greatly improves a road surface with each job taking between 2 and 4 hours to complete.

When does the work start?

Planned to begin on September 18, the schedule sees gangs laying the material for the next six weeks, subject to weather. 

The work will happen between 7am and 6pm, seven days a week.

Will there be roads closed and diversions? 

To get the job done, the council will be working with mobile road closures with on-site workers able to help and advise traffic accordingly. During the works there will be a period where the newly laid surface will not be able to be driven on – this will usually be for about 30 minutes after the job is completed. 

The council will work closely with residents and businesses to maintain access and egress.

The Lincolnshire roads that are getting the surface treatment:

North

• Belgravia Close, Lincoln
• Roxborough Close, Lincoln
• Euston Close, Lincoln 
• Chelsea Close, Lincoln
• Grosvenor Avenue, Lincoln
• Shaftesbury Avenue, Lincoln
• Chalgrove Way, Lincoln
• Roman Wharf, Lincoln 
• Lady Bower Close, North Hykeham
• Oulton Close, North Hykeham
• Wroxham Close, North Hykeham
• Kinder Avenue, North Hykeham
• Ullswater Close, North Hykeham
• Avon Close, North Hykeham
• Tyne Close, North Hykeham
• Medway Crescent, North Hykeham
• Estwaite Close, North Hykeham
• Derwent Close, North Hykeham
• Thirlmere Close, North Hykeham
• Windermere Avenue, Coniston Drive, North Hykeham
• West Drive, Sudbrooke
• Windsor Close, Sudbrooke
• Green Way/Sibthorpe Drive, Sudbrooke

South

• Church Lane, West Deeping
• The Lane, West Deeping
• Cherry Grove, Market Deeping
• Still Close, Market Deeping
• Rosemary Avenue, Market Deeping
• Thyme Avenue, Market Deeping
• Clover Road, Market Deeping
• Bramley Road, Market Deeping
• Chestnut Way, Market Deeping
• Hawthorn Close, Market Deeping
• Beech Close, Market Deeping
• Oak Grove, Market Deeping
• John Eve Way/Black Prince Way, Market Deeping
• Harvey Close, Bourne
• Ostler Drive, Bourne
• Cecil Close, Bourne
• Churchill Avenue, Bourne
• Westwood Drive, Bourne
• Birch Grove, Spalding
• Ingleby Court, Spalding
• Rainton Court, Spalding
• Cleveland Close, Spalding
• Kirby Court, Spalding
• Helmsley Way, Spalding

East

• Low Toynton Close, Horncastle
• Cheriton Close, Bardney
• Laing Close, Bardney
• Jubilee Close, Bardney
• Carron Close, Bardney
• Chapel Lane, Hemingby
• Picksley Crescent, Holton Le Clay
• Holmes Close, Louth
• Welbeck Way, Louth
• Mill Lane, Louth
• Havelok Close, Louth
• Simons Close, Louth
• Beck Way, Louth
• Hawker Drive/Pastures Drive, Louth
• Alder Close, Louth
• Albany Place, Louth
• Brookside Close, Louth
• Bartongate, Louth
• Albany Road, Louth

West

• North Lane, Navenby
• Ely Street, Sleaford
• Ripon Drive, Sleaford
• Horseshoe Close, Ruskington
• The Paddock, Ruskington
• Manor Close, Ruskington
• Moor Park, Ruskington
• West Road, Ruskington
• Cliffe Avenue, Ruskington
• Dorrington Close, Ruskington 

Don't become prey to Scammers posing as LCC!

Whilst the extensive surface dressing works are happening there can be those who are looking to take advantage of residents across the county.

Reports have come in of people being approached by supposed 'crews' who claim to be working in the area, carrying out surface dressing. They then claim to have finished their job and just happen to have some 'leftover' Tarmac and stone chips. The 'crew' then offer to cover a private residence driveway for cash-in-hand. 

This is a scam. 

The people running it aren't working for the county council, they haven't got extra unwanted material in the back of their lorry and what they are doing is illegal. 

Richard Fenwick, Head of Highways Asset said: "This is a complete scam and simply doesn't happen with any works we carry out. 

"The truth is that our contractors work with very little waste in the first place and all loads that go out from a depot, and then back again - should there be any extra material left over for whatever reason – are logged so that nothing like this can happen.

"Anyone claiming to have left-over material and willing to do a job privately for cash-in-hand is not being truthful. Our working practices don't allow for the type of situation they are suggesting."

In fact, Lincolnshire Trading Standards is investigating after receiving reports of a company touting for business by claiming to be working for the county's highways team. 

Senior Trading Standards Officer, Sally Gray, explained: "We've been made aware of a company who are allegedly misleading people into believing they are from our highways team and offering to carry out resurfacing work such as Tarmacking or repairing potholes on private land.  

"These scammers are claiming to be working on the roads nearby, and will have Tarmac left over. Once the work has been done, the individuals are then left with a huge, unexpected bill. 

"Residents should take care to research any company before agreeing to contract them for any work. In this case, especially if they are responsible for a community facility – like a local sports club – or a town or parish council in the south of the county, as these seem to be the main targets." 

Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, added: "A highways officer, or one of our contractors, would never approach someone out of the blue and offer to do work for them. 

"If you are ever unsure whether someone is working on behalf of the highways team, contact the council on 01522 782070 to confirm before agreeing to anything."

If you think a business has broken the law or acted unfairly, you can report them to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call the consumer helpline on: 0808 223 1133.