Workman’s glove embedded in road in new pothole misery

A CRUCIAL route into the city which was closed for three weeks while a new surface was laid faces fresh upheaval – thanks to a workman who dropped his glove.
The offending garment has caused a pothole on the newly relaid St Johns Road. Picture: Ian GeorgesonThe offending garment has caused a pothole on the newly relaid St Johns Road. Picture: Ian Georgeson
The offending garment has caused a pothole on the newly relaid St Johns Road. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The offending garment was spotted stuck to the asphalt on St John’s Road, leaving 
observers in no doubt that it was responsible for the new pothole from which it seemed to emerge.

It is understood a bungling contractor dropped the glove while working on the key thoroughfare – meaning the new surface failed to set properly.

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Motorists got to enjoy a smooth ride for just a few days before one of the Capital’s busiest roads became bumpy again.

It is not known when repairs will be carried out or how long the road might be closed for.

Corstorphine residents shared pictures of the glove on social media, with some seeing the funny side but others left angered and frustrated at the prospect of more closures.

Politicians pointed to the fact that the council already faces a £260 million bill to bring Edinburgh’s roads up to scratch – however city leaders insisted contractor Lafarge would be 
responsible for the repair bill.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, a prospective Scottish Parliament candidate for the Liberal Democrats, said: “I’ve been calling for the city to be more ‘hands on’ with road repairs for some time, but this isn’t quite what I had in mind. Residents have had to endure weeks of traffic chaos as a result of the resurfacing of St John’s Road.

“To learn that there is more gridlock to come, thanks to the hapless incompetence of city contractors, is just staggering. You couldn’t make it up.”

Michelle Thomson, SNP MP for Edinburgh West, added: “I don’t want to sound too ‘heavy-handed’ about it but, honestly, this kind of casual lack of attention isn’t good enough.”

Warren Hope, of Corstorphine community council, said residents now feared more traffic chaos. He added: “Dealing with a pothole and reinstating the road is a major undertaking, involving excavation and back-filling around the hole.”

A council spokeswoman said that the glove had now been removed from the road and an investigation launched to find out how it got there.