Aberdeen council bosses have found themselves in a sticky situation- after using tape to repair lampposts.
Faulty lights within the grounds of Summerhill’s Gray Court have been reported three times since December, which residents say took weeks to fix.
Now bemused residents have now found the lights have been repaired – but with sticky tape.
Another lamppost head has been found lying on the ground – but still connected – near Lewis Court, raising fears it could shock anyone coming into close contact.
Frances Meldrum has lived in Gray Court since 2002 and reported the faults in February.
Yesterday she said the attitude to making repairs had changed.
She said: “Nowadays they always say they don’t have the parts available, it gets done eventually but it takes a lot longer.
“The red tape was just something else, I couldn’t believe it when I saw it there – you really couldn’t make it up.
“The lamppost lying on the ground is a safety hazard, a child could put his hand in that and be at real risk.”
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Council bosses have been previously criticised for botched repair jobs – notably for tarring over historic setts in both the city centre and Old Aberdeen in recent years.
Liberal Democrat Kingswells, Sheddocksley and Summerhill councillor Steve Delaney said: “It’s a good job the residents have a sense of humour.
“They have waited a number of weeks to get these faults rectified, third time round, and finally the lights are back on.
“When they told me the lamps were being held on with insulating tape I thought this was a joke, but clearly not.
“My greatest fear is that these lamps may blow off their columns in stormy weather, as others have done in recent months in nearby Sheddocksley and Kingswells.”
Operations convener John Wheeler said “I am delighted that the faulty lights within the grounds of Summerhill Court are now working to the satisfaction of residents.
“As a responsible councillor I have asked our officers to investigate any health and safety risks to the public and residents following the repairs to the faulty lights within the grounds of Summerhill Court and I will of course respond to Councillor Delaney once officers come back to me.”
Operations convener John Wheeler said “I am delighted that the faulty lights within the grounds of Summerhill Court are now working to the satisfaction of residents.
“As a responsible councillor I have asked our officers to investigate any health and safety risks to the public and residents following the repairs to the faulty lights within the grounds of Summerhill Court and I will of course respond to Councillor Delaney once officers come back to me.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The tape was not being used to hold the lanterns in place.
“This was a temporary repair to stop water ingress at the joints until new lanterns arrived. The new lanterns are due to be installed this week.”
