NORTH Yorkshire County Council has admitted there have been "difficulties" with road surfacing works in Cross Hills and that they were caused by trying to get the work done as quickly as possible.

Traders and residents who have suffered three weeks of traffic jams, pedestrian hurdles and loss of trade, say the work has been a "disgrace" and not enough consideration has been shown for public safety.

There have been several reports of elderly people falling on the uneven pavements and struggling to cross roads without pelican crossings operating.

To make matters worse, a section of the road had to be re-done due to the wrong materials being used.

A spokesman from North Yorkshire County Council confirmed that time constraints on the work had caused problems.

"This was a very big project which was carried out in a very short space of time. We were under a lot of pressure to get the work done very quickly by traders. If the work had been done at its normal pace, this would be a seven week project. We completed it in three," he said.

"We did have a couple of problems with materials which we used for the resurfacing which meant that it didn't quite bond the way we hoped. That related to about 10 per cent of the road surface.

"We were restricted in the way we were working because people literally ignored wideload diversions, so we tried to control the traffic with a single lane traffic operation. The shop keepers objected to us working in front of their shops during the week, so we tried to complete the work during the weekends.

"We were trying to do the work as fast as possible, and you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't have been done like that but we were under enormous pressure to get the work done as quickly as we could."

Peter Whitaker, the owner of G E Thornton and Sons on the Main Street, told the Herald: "I have lost about 15 per cent this week and last. Normally trade would be up this week with it being the bank holiday but not this year.

"They had resurfaced 80 per cent of the road by Sunday (August 18), and they did a good job, but some of it wasn't right so they ground it off again and on Wednesday morning ( August 21) had some more delivered, which was again the wrong sort. They sent it back and the same thing happened last Thursday. It's just a nightmare."

Simon Smith, of Wilman and Wilman, said: "We know it needs doing, but there have been some problems. One member of staff had to pick up an old lady who had fallen on the broken pavement opposite."

Sue Ray, of Travelray, added: "We know they have to do it but when you see them doing the same stretch three times they are wasting taxpayers' money. It is stopping people coming into Cross Hills.

"It is not fair on the traders, especially this time of year. We had a bad time from foot and mouth, and a bad time from September 11 and now they do this in the holiday season."

John Bowden, owner of the Granary Confectioners, called the work "a complete and utter disgrace". "Nobody has been coming near the shop while the machines have been out there," he said. "Trade has been down by about 50 per cent. A lot of people from Cowling and outlying villages won't come down when they face two or three-mile traffic jams both ways. I can see people struggling to get across the roads because the pelican crossings were down. They daren't cross the road to do their shopping."

Elderly residents Valerie Wilson and Joyce Ridd said the state of the pavements in particular was "ridiculous".

"Two or three people have fallen on the pavement, it is that uneven. They have covered the bus stops so old people have to go down to the health centre to catch a bus. It puts people off coming into town," Mrs Wilson said.

County Coun Philip Barrett said: "The state of the pavements are my biggest concern. I feel that insufficient consideration has been given to the public. They shouldn't have taken all the pavements up at the same time.

"The whole thing has been badly organised. They should be more organised before doing these works. There has obviously been a breakdown in communications and not enough consideration shown to members of the public.

"There is such a large population of elderly people in South Craven, not only that but young mothers with pushchairs are having a hell of a job getting down the pavements. It is a sad situation and a lot of it could have been avoided."

But Nick Fawell, owner of the Legendary Sandwich Experience, said that the roadworks had not caused him any problems, and praised the workmen.

"They have been really good, they have been helping people get across and there are signs up everywhere," he said.