RESIDENTS in Penhill want to know why work on traffic calming measures ground to a halt for three weeks.

Work started on narrowing the road at two sites in Penhill Drive more than six weeks ago. It was expected to take two weeks.

As part of a major road safety scheme in the area, workmen from Swindon Services removed a stretch of the road surface at two sites near the junction of Corsham Road and Penhill Drive.

They installed dropped kerbs, but then left and were not seen for three weeks, although work did start again last week.

Residents say that the roadworks are a safety hazard.

And they fear that vandals could use debris left lying around to damage property.

Residents claim that the workmen also left a pick axe behind at one site.

Coun David Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) said: "This is terrible. It is unsafe and very unsightly.

"It is causing problems for disabled and elderly people and for mums with pushchairs.

"The workmen ought to have been here, getting on with it.

"Once you start a job like this, you should finish it."

Margaret Norton, of Age Concern's Penhill branch, is also concerned.

She said: "There are a lot of elderly people living nearby in the Les Gowing House and Lillian Lock residential homes, and these roadworks are very unsafe for them.

"The work has been going on for too long. It should be finished by now."

Durnford Road resident Barry Duke, 54, said: "It's dangerous because the roadworks obscure the view when you come out of Durnford Road.

"It also looks a right mess."

Richard Hedges, principal contracts manager in the highway department at Swindon Services, said that the delay was caused by unexpected problems with underground pipes and cables.

He added: "We didn't expect to find any underground services there.

"It meant we had to talk to the owners of the cables to establish whether we could move them.

"The work should be completed by the end of next week.

"Most of the work, except for Penhill Drive, has now been completed."

Swindon Services is carrying out work at around 40 sites in Penhill as part of a road safety scheme.

Work ranges from installing road humps to installing pedestrian islands.

Work has also started on the road outside Penhill Library, but this has also been left unfinished.

Similar road safety schemes are being carried out in Covingham, Park North and Park South.