RESIDENTS and businesses who have had more than a year of intermittent road closures are facing more disruption.

Looe’s Shutta Road was closed in February 2020 after a leaning parapet was found to be in danger of collapse, and for repairs to a weak retaining wall.

The tricky work involved excavating into the road and the drilling of rock anchors for stability.

People living on the road were expecting the project to be finished by September 2020 – but the road was only re-opened around three weeks ago.

Unfortunately two landslips on private land have also occurred, the most recent of which has led to another road closure, with a traffic order in place until June 30.

And Shutta Road will be closed once more in October, in order for a further section of parapet wall to be repaired.

Meanwhile, contractors Cormac are in discussion with Heritage and Conservation officers and the Planning department over the materials used to rebuild the 150 year old wall.

One resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “We first had a conversation with Cormac in 2019 where they said the road would be complete by September 2020.

“It was asked at the time if they’d be reusing the stone and they said yes, but that didn’t happen. They’ve used concrete blocks and stuck tiles on the side. September came along and they hadn’t completed – they used Covid as the excuse.

“They have now told us legal proceedings are going on and that they are dealing with conservation.”

A spokesperson for Cormac said: “Just before the first COVID-19 lockdown in February 2020, essential safety work began along Shutta Road to repair a weak section of retaining wall and two sections of leaning parapet in danger of collapse. These totalled over 100m in length. Works included the removal of the affected parts of parapet, excavation into the road and the drilling of rock anchors, using rope access, to provide support to the road.

“New parapet walls were constructed in reinforced blockwork to provide additional strength, faced with a thin stone cladding to give the appearance of a natural stone finish.

“The existing stone forming the walls had deteriorated to such an extent that is could not be reused.

“The work only required closures to be implemented for short periods and they were removed to maintain access for residents when not required,” Cormac continued.

“Unfortunately, in addition to our works there have been two landslips on private property in Shutta Road in the past fourteen months, one of which forced the full closure to through traffic.

“During the course of the original planned works, some additional sections of parapet walls were identified as being in need of repair. We are currently working closely with Cornwall Council’s Heritage and Conservation officers, and the Planning Authority, to address some concerns that have been raised during the first phase of works regarding the type of stone to be used for these further repairs.”

Shutta Road will be closed once more towards the end of October, says Cormac, to enable this second lot of repairs to be done.

The resident said: “It’s caused a lot of disruption, it’ll be a good one and a half years by the time it is done. People here are very patient but frustrated as well.”