CONFUSION surrounds how, or when, Liskeard's crumbling new Parade is to be repaired.

Workmen were due to move in last weekend, to close the road to through traffic from 6pm Saturday evening to 6pm Sunday, to start to repair the surface, which started to deteriorate almost immediately after it was laid last year.

However, last minute protests to Cornwall county council from Liskeard Town Forum, who were concerned about the timing of the works and confused about what exactly was proposed, led to the repairs being halted. Although they realise that the road surface cannot be left as it is for the long term, traders in the town are worried that drawn-out repair works will deter shoppers, and lead to a drop in profits.

Concerns have also been expressed over what surface the new-look road will eventually be given - although a county council spokesman has said the roadworks which were proposed would have involved a bitumen layer, which would have later been topped off with a 'stamped' surface, the colour of which can be selected.

The county's resident engineer, Neil Homerston, said the initial bituminous layer would have been just 15mm lower than the rest of the road surface.

When they returned for the second layer the contractors would have been faced with a longer job, as they would have had to hand stamp the hot surface as it was laid. However, the use of traffic lights and a stop/go system would have kept traffic flowing.

He explained that the works last weekend were called off because of worries in Liskeard about the timing. He added that it is hoped the proposed scheme will be able to go ahead later in the year, once the summer tourist season has passed. Negotiations, however, will be held later this month with representatives of Liskeard Forum and Chamber of Commerce, and councillors, regarding surfaces and timing.

Mr Homerston stressed the stone 'sets' currently in the Parade's surface, which are lifting and making it uneven, would have been retained in Liskeard and used in schemes elsewhere in the town.

A surface, similar to that proposed to replace the 'sets', can be seen in Truro's Lower Lemon Street, having been laid there two or three years ago. The colour of the coating chosen there, which has a pattern impressed into it, is dark grey.

Mr Homerston said he thought this was the colour which Liskeard had shown interest in.