WORKMEN will return to a notorious Hereford junction to have another go at finishing the job.

Changes were made earlier this year to the spot where King Street and Bridge Street meet in an attempt to prevent further accidents at the black spot.

Businesses, many of whom have treated injured cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, welcomed the works which cost around £100,000.

But, just weeks after the new junction was completed, Herefordshire Council has announced that there was a “tarmacking error”.

The local authority confirmed to the Hereford Times that the contractor tasked with the work laid the wrong type of material, which will have to be scraped off before the correct material is applied.

In a statement, the council said: “The contractor laid an inappropriate type of anti-skid material and as a result they are rectifying the error.

“This is only related to the ‘buff ’ coloured surface treatment. The other materials used are as specified.

“As with many road surface products, there are variations and it is important for the scheme for the right materials to be used.

“The intention is to use a cold applied type of material which gives a finish that rides better than the surface treatment currently installed, lasts longer and looks better.”

Along with other firms, estate agent Andrew Morris has held a number of talks with the council about the junction, dubbed “crash alley” due to the frequency of accidents.

He said the new work will mean even “more disruption to businesses and the public”.

Mr Morris added: “How much money this work has already cost must be considerable.

“Especially when there are numerous pot holes all over the city and county needing remedial work and grass cutting that has been so reduced that most areas of the city look very uncared for.

“Many local businesses have long since been calling for a simple “stop sign” to be erected at the junction to slow traffic.

“Surely this option could have been trialled before this very expensive, and now it seems incorrect work, had been carried out.

“It would have saved the council a considerable amount of money that could have been put to good use elsewhere.”

Rachel Davies, who is a spokeswoman for Balfour Beatty, the council’s highways contractors, said: “Our contractor laid an incorrect specification of anti-skid material – that’s the part of the road surface that is buff coloured.

“All the other materials used were correct and according to specifications.

“Our contractors have agreed to redo the anti-skid area at their own expense.”