For the last few weeks, there have been road works in Worthy Road junction with Northlands Drive, Winchester, which apparently is the responsibility of Scottish and Southern Energy (S&SE). Operatives are rarely seen on site albeit there is a set of traffic lights to control the traffic.

Today those traffic lights were stuck on red, all three ways, and with no one in attendance, drivers were having to judge whether it was safe to proceed against the red lights.

A phone call to HCC, after the usual 10-minute wait whilst I was told about this policy and that policy, identified the utility but nothing else other than a vague statement to the effect that they might send someone out, but no time frame could be given.

This phone took more than 10 minutes and when I was asked to identify the location I was asked for the ‘Post Code’ or alternatively ‘My 3 Words’ – not easy when you don’t live at the location and you’re in town even though I clearly identified the road by name and the location along that road.

I then phoned 101, with yet another 10-minute wait and policy reiterations, before the operative said not interested. It’s an S&SE’s problem and put the phone down even though the road works were causing an obstruction to normal traffic flow.

Finally, I phoned S&SE and after the required 10-minute wait and further policy reiterations there was a problem with the location (I think this lady was located in Scotland) but that was eventually resolved and the report was noted.

Apart from the ‘not interested' Police, I did ask for a return phone call to tell me if the issue had been resolved. It’s now late afternoon and no phone calls.

I believe that all these national organisations are no longer fit for purpose. They are self-serving and generally ‘stepping back’ from direct interaction with the public through the use of poor-quality call centres and long telephone wait times are deplorable. (Employ more staff ??) They all claim it's ‘quicker’ via their websites but they are not easy to navigate even when you have Desk Top. These organisations are supposed to be serving the general public and residents in the areas of their control but actually, they don’t really care about the general public in the slightest.

If, however, you infringe their rules and regs then just wait for the proverbial ‘ton of bricks’ to descend.

Tony Stephens,

The Pastures,

Kings Worthy

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