Roadworks causing frustration among Fulham residents

Fulham residents furious over traffic chaos caused by repairs to a faulty gas main today demanded Boris Johnson honour his pledge to rid London of costly roadworks.

Housewife Noreen Goodwin, from Parson’s Green, has spurred her community into action against the traffic misery which is expected to last another six weeks while the pipe underneath New King’s Road is replaced.

She invited council staff, contractors, police officers, shop keepers and residents to the local church hall in Parsons Green to discuss the issue last night.

Mrs Goodwin told Evening Standard that Mayor Johnson - who launched a series of initiatives against disruptive road works last year - should take note of their concerns.

“He needs to get London running again as a whole and problems like this should be one of his priorities,” she said.

More than 80 people turned up to the meeting which saw heated exchanges between local residents and Hammersmith & Fulham Council officials who said they were doing all they could to alleviate the misery.

“Fulham has been at a standstill, it’s been complete gridlock,” said Mrs Goodwin, a mother-of-eight who has had more than a 100 supportive emails from locals rallying to her cause.

Her husband Tony, a recruitment consultant and entrepreneur, said: “Residents are up in arms, local businesses are being affected. Some shop keepers are saying trade has fallen by up to 10 per cent because of the traffic – it just can’t continue like this.”

He told the meeting Tesco had reported fuel sales down by 75 per cent because of the roadworks.

Michael Allen, networks coordinator for Hammersmith & Fulham Council, explained that the faulty pipe had suffered six leaks in the past 18 months and had to be replaced.

He said officials had already reduced the programme for the works by two thirds from 22 to seven weeks and chosen the least intrusive time to carry it out - outside of the football season and before the Olympics.