RESIDENTS have claimed that they are trapped in their homes by "nightmare" roadworks that have seen their roads close for nearly a year.
Homeowners in parts of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, have been left dismayed by the chaos and fear of more to come, with up to 20 roads set to be closed in the coming weeks.
Severn Trent Water have been digging up roads around the city to make upgrades to pipework, but locals say it has been a "shambles".
They also say they have not been kept properly informed of the work going on around their homes.
Parts of one street, Carlton Avenue, have been closed, with a sign going up to tell drivers and residents alike that work will be going on for 141 days.
The closure has caused traffic to build up around St Margaret Ward High Catholic Academy, where Robbie Williams went as a boy.
The former Take That star even donated £50,000 to the school's performing arts department.
One of the school's neighbours Lisa Singuglia, 65, said: "It came as a big shock to see the sign up. We didn't know anything about it."
The mum-of-two added: "It is an accident waiting to happen and I have seen cars overtaking children as they cross the road.
"I fear a child is going to get knocked over."
Next door, Terry Bateman, 71, agreed, saying: "I thought it was a joke when I saw that it was 141 days. I thought some kids had drawn on the sign and added numbers.
"However the workmen have been brilliant - it's not their fault."
Terry, who is a former karting champion and clerk of the course at Silverstone, said: "I have spoken to the council as we didn't know anything about it.
"You can't get around and people will now park on the road opposite the school as they can't really park on our road now.
"But that road already has double yellow lines. It needs to be enforced or perhaps made into double red lines to stop people."
Other residents echoed Terry and Lisa's anger over the risks to child safety, the perceived lack of communication from the the water company and the increase in congestion.
A spokesperson for Severn Trent Water said: "The pipe replacement works that we're currently delivering in Stoke on Trent are essential improvements to our infrastructure.
"It is part of the £650million we are investing to ensure our network is in the best possible position to meet the demands of climate change and a growing population.
"We know that road works can be inconvenient, and we do everything that we can to minimise the disruption that they cause to the communities.
"They're in place to protect workers and road users, whilst carrying out complex work, which can often include deep excavations."
They spokesperson apologised to residents for any "disruption or inconvenience" caused by the work and said they are working to complete them as soon as possible.
