RESIDENTS have criticised Wigan Council for only replacing three paving stones on a path they believe requires completely resurfacing.

One, Corrie Shelley, claims that the concrete slabs replaced by maintenance workers on Dawson Street in Atherton were in a better condition than some left alone.

The 45-year-old said: “I can't understand why the council only replaced three paving slabs.

"My neighbours and I actually found it rather amusing because the three slabs they replaced were probably the least damaged in the path.

“They only had single cracks on them when others on the same pavement have more.

"It took the workers all of 10 minutes to replace them – they had gone before we had a chance to go out and ask if and when they would replace the rest."

She also criticised the standard of the work done on May 30.

“It looks like the new slabs are made out of plastering wood and there is no grouting between them.

"They are already showing wear and tear."

Other residents also lamented the repair work on social media.

Paddy McCrory posted: "Well done Wigan Council on a really unprofessional job. Amateur hour Wigan style.

"Thank God this council no longer builds council houses."

Louise Knowles offered mitigation.

She said: "They only did the three because it was probably deemed that they were the worse ones, or that only

three were reported to be replaced.

"Unfortunately they can't go beyond what the job has been signed off to cover due to budgets and funding."

The council says the path is in its provisional 2018-19 programme of planned highway maintenance work.

“Wigan Council carries out a number of different maintenance activities on its highway infrastructure," said Mark Tilley, assistant director for infrastructure and regulatory services.

“In terms of highway footway maintenance these are usually reactive works to carry out minor repairs to defects that may pose risk to public safety or planned maintenance where we are replacing footways.

“In regards to Dawson Street, Atherton, I can confirm that our scheduled highway safety inspection identified a defect in the footway that meets the council's minor repairs criteria.

“As such the repair that was recently completed was undertaken to remove this defect.

“And while some of the remaining sections of paving are showing signs of damage and are not aesthetically pleasing, it is not in a condition that meets the council’s repair criteria, which is why no further repairs have been undertaken.

“However the condition of all the borough's footways are monitored in line with our highway asset management policy."