CONTRACTORS have been unable to finish work on Southend seafront City Beach crossings because of a blunder by a power company. S

outhend Council contractors began work to install four pedestrian crossings on Marine Parade on April 15 but they had to stop work on the final one  after it was discovered utility cables were too near the surface to finish the job.

The council has blamed a utility company which said there was no underground cabling to hamper the work.

The crossings are being installed following a campaign prompted by a number of car accidents involving pedestrians.

Concerns were raised after the council created the “shared space” area with less curbing between the road and pavements, leaving pedestrians to dodge between traffic to cross the road.

Vehicles are expected to give way to them and a 20mph speed limit is monitored by average speed cameras but the new crossings are designed to give people a clearer idea of where to cross safely.

However, now only three have been finished and a fourth trench, dug ready for paving, has been temporarily filled in. 

The council did not reveal which utility company had given it the wrong information so the Echo could approach it for a comment.