ANGRY householders are demanding compensation from Hampshire County Council after suffering eight weeks of road works “misery”, during which some homes were shut off altogether.

Residents of Stonehill and Kenley roads, in Headley Down, said they had been given no warning about Operation Resilience maintenance works, and the repairs had taken twice as long as the four weeks scheduled.

The works, which began on April 4, were completed in Stonehill Road last Friday (June 1) and were due to finish in Kenley Road on Wednesday.

Stonehill Road resident Margaret Mawson said: “The crux of the matter has been a lack of communication and care from the county council. Able-bodied OAPs, with friends in affected roads, were lugging food shopping from three to four roads away, as internet providers could not get close enough to deliver.

“Pedestrian access for the able bodied was severely restricted in Stonehill Road and Kenley Road and there was none for disabled persons at all. A concern for residents was that the emergency services wouldn’t be able to get to them. We were blocked in with no vehicular access or egress for almost two weeks, including weekends. We are both OAPs.”

The county council is due to carry out carriageway resurfacing works at the end of August.

Last week, the council’s executive member for environment and transport Rob Humby said: “Regrettably, in this instance, the work has taken longer than anticipated due to unforeseen circumstances relating to ground conditions. In this time we have sought to ensure pedestrian access is maintained, and have re-opened the road to traffic wherever possible.

“Work has started again this week, which we anticipate finishing on Friday, weather permitting, and I am pleased residents will soon benefit from an upgraded drainage system and new road surface.”