Roadworker abuse in Southampton reaches ‘new high’

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

st denys road roadworkers 29 11 23 roadworks 600pxAbuse of roadworkers has become “part of the job” in Southampton, it’s been claimed.

 

Article continues after this message...

 As a result Southampton City Council and contractor Balfour Beatty have said they are “making a stand” to stop roadworker abuse.

In a statement made by the city council, roadworkers in Southampton are being “verbally abused”, and “physically threatened”.

This includes people throwing objects at them, including barriers and cones, as well as motorists driving on the pavement in order to avoid road closures.

According to a 2023 survey, 58 per cent of roadworkers in the city had been abused every month in the last year.

Brenton McClean, a reactive maintenance supervisor, said: “I’ve just become hardened to it now and accepted it’s part of the job, which I shouldn’t have to.

“In one situation a man wanted to get through a road closure, he attacked my colleague, hitting him with a baseball bat, me and four or five of my other colleagues had to restrain him whilst we waited for the police to arrive.”

“It was just awful, it wouldn’t happen outside of other people’s work but when we’ve got our hi-vis on we literally become a target.”

Balfour Beatty Living Places contract director Brian Hammersley said: “No one should come to work expecting to be abused, we view the safety and welfare of all our staff as our priority and we will not tolerate any verbal or physical attacks against them.

“Roadworkers are a workforce who are no different to anyone else; we have families, friends, and feelings, just like anyone else.”

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport said: “Balfour Beatty Living Places are providing us all with safer roads to assist pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles; it’s disturbing to hear that their workforce is being targeted.

“We as a council fully support a zero-tolerance policy towards stopping any abuse towards all roadworkers and frontline workers.”

st denys road roadworkers 29 11 23 roadworks 600px

Photo of St Denys Road roadworks for illustrative purposes only; there hasn't been a suggestion these workers specifically have been targeted.

We're reader powered! Please help us keep publishing today...

Our local news is currently free to view, but not to produce. Join people just like you who already chip in to keep our site going by becoming a 'Good Friend' supporter for just £2.99 a month - or more if you can.

Use the subscribe button below using a debit or credit card securely via PayPal. You don't need a PayPal account - just use the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card' option, when you click the 'Subscribe' button below, on the next screen. There's no obligation to open a PayPal account. Or use your existing PayPal account if you prefer. Or even better, contact us to set up a standing order so we get all your sub rather than PayPal taking a percentage.

Click here for other options/to set up a standing order - and help us keep on keeping on.

It's appreciated!

Subcription Options

 

Alternatively make a one-off donation here - you don't need a PayPal account for this option either.