An MP has criticised the progress of ongoing roadworks in Ilkley after raising concerns with Yorkshire Water over what he says is a lack of activity on site despite major traffic disruption.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore said he and Ilkley councillor Richard Downey met with Yorkshire Water on Monday to demand answers over the works, which have caused long queues through Ilkley and towards Addingham.
The MP said he had received numerous complaints from residents, commuters and businesses who have questioned why contractors have frequently not been visible on site during normal working hours, despite temporary traffic management remaining in place.
Mr Moore described the situation as "completely unacceptable" and said he was frustrated that Bradford Council's Highways Department had not yet agreed to meet him on site, despite his request for an urgent meeting.
He said the disruption was having a significant impact on residents, bus services and local businesses, adding that reduced footfall and delays were affecting the local economy.
Robbie Moore said:
"Huge numbers of residents, commuters, including buses and local businesses are being severely impacted by these works, and it is costing our local economy in downtime and reduced footfall."
He added that, despite raising his concerns directly with Yorkshire Water, he had not received confirmation that the overall four-week programme of works would be shortened.
Following the meeting, Yorkshire Water confirmed that additional resources are being deployed and that working hours would be extended from 8am until 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to speed up the current phase of the project.
The utility company said it aims to complete the majority of the backfilling and road reinstatement works by the end of Friday before moving on to mandatory water quality assurance testing, which is expected to take around a week.
Yorkshire Water acknowledged that there may continue to be periods where motorists do not see visible activity on site, explaining that water quality testing is an essential safety requirement before the new water main can be brought into service.
The company also said it is exploring whether some of the final connection works can be carried out alongside the testing process to help reduce the overall duration of the scheme and remove the traffic management as early as possible.
Despite the update, Mr Moore said he remained dissatisfied.
He said:
"To summarise, I still have no confirmation as to whether the works will be completed earlier than planned, and whether the working hours will be extended throughout, or that they have mandated their contractor to work those hours.
"The whole situation is completely unsatisfactory.
"Penalty clauses should have been issued from the start."
The MP said he and Ilkley's district councillors would continue pressing Yorkshire Water and Bradford Council until the works are complete and has encouraged residents to report if they continue to see periods where no work is taking place on site.
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