Verbal abuse and spitting directed at road workers

A gas distributor says it has installed CCTV cameras at a roadworks site after contractors were verbally abused and spat at.

SGN reported installing the cameras while workers replaced a gas main under part of Stockbridge Road in Chichester, Sussex.

Contractors, particularly traffic marshals at the closed road, have "regularly experienced unacceptable behaviour from drivers since work began", the company said.

The road closure began on 10 October and were scheduled to last a total of seven weeks.

After that phase of works, the closure will move to the adjoining Birdham Road, scheduled from 30 November for about four weeks.

The pipe being replaced is 86 years old and supplies gas to hundreds of customers in the Stockbridge area, according to SGN.

The company said it appreciated the closure was causing disruption and was "very sorry for the inconvenience".

It said contractors had experienced "verbal abuse, spitting, objects being thrown at them and motorists attempting to enter the restricted work area", adding that threats would be reported to police.

Sussex Police was contacted for comment.

SGN said incidents could "potentially delay the project" and "additional security measures" were in place.

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