03-05-2025
Investigation launched after claims workmen ‘p****d' in public and ‘whistled' at passers-by
An investigation will be launched following allegations council contractors 'p****d' in public and 'whistled' at passers-by on a delayed roadwork project.
Manchester Council said it 'takes any accusations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously' and confirmed the incidents 'will be investigated and the appropriate action taken' after a resident's complaint.
The firm carrying out the project to install a bike lane on Oldham Road in the city centre, Octavius, said it has implemented 'extra training about proper conduct'.
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Octavius also confirmed the an 'element' of the roadworks 'will be completed later than originally anticipated', expected to be July this year. One neighbour said the scheme, which started in February, was scheduled to finish last Sunday (April 27).
The same resident hit out at workmen's 'poor behaviour'.
'A guy pulled his pants down and started p***ing at 8:30am one morning,' said Chrissie Keener, who's lived on the road for 11 years. 'He was p***ing in one of the holes being dug.'
Ms Keener, who works in media, also said she witnessed staff 'eyeing up' a passerby.
She said: 'It was nothing overly aggressive. There was a woman jogging and they were eyeing her up and looking at each other. They have been whistling too. It's poor behaviour.
'I would not care if they got it done but they keep extending it.'
She also told the Local Democracy Reporting Service work has been slow: 'They have just started putting a pathway in.
'I do not know why a cycle lane is a mammoth project. Literally a 10 storey building has gone up faster next to it.
'I am not a builder but looking out you can see they have kept digging holes and refilling them. Most of the time there's no one working there.'
A spokesperson for Octavius said there had been a 'hiatus' on work due to 'delays in obtaining some essential materials'.
In a statement, they said 'extra training' has been implemented around 'conduct': 'We take the resident's views seriously and quickly arranged an in-person meeting with the project liaison officer to understand them better.
'The cycleway project is running to schedule. The work in front of the resident's house has started, but a delay in obtaining some essential materials – granite street furniture – is why the resident has observed a hiatus and why this specific element of the project will be completed later than originally anticipated.
'Project leaders have raised the resident's concerns about some conduct with the site team. It has been made clear that inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated, in addition the team have all received extra training about proper conduct on site.'
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council added: "The council takes any accusations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously and we would like to reassure this resident that it will be investigated and the appropriate action taken."
