District council bosses have confirmed that they hope to talk directly to contractors about the "poor condition" of paving on The Delph, in Swadlincote.

Shoppers have criticised the paving in the town centre of Swadlincote which has seen cracks appear and areas start to pull apart.

This comes a little more than seven years since a £2 million facelift of the centre was completed in March, 2011 including the stone paving which was laid from new.

Improvement works were made on The Delph, as well as West Street and Ernest Hall Way.

Speaking at the latest forum meeting for Swadlincote, chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council, Frank McArdle said he was looking into the issue and had reviewed the original agreement from contractors and promises about the material's longevity.

Paving on The Delph
Paving on The Delph

Mr McArdle said: "It's in poor condition. That's really due to the inherent design of the material that was used and rather than try to patch and repair, as we've attempted to do, I prefer to take a more structured approach to it.

"I've asked for all the details of the contract that was let; the suppliers of the stone, the guarantees that were given under contract and the fit life of that material.

"It does not comply with the originally specification. My officers were more diligent than perhaps I even gave them credit for when I saw the condition of it.

"Now I've seen this document I intend to take every action to bring the contractors to the table with the appropriate officers at the council to see how far we can get on their reputation for what they do and they are a considerable, large contractor who do nationwide work.

"How successful I will be, you will find out at the next meeting because I will report back either myself or through my officers. But I think that is the way forward rather than just continuing to use what spare ones we have left, and we do have some.

"I think this is a slightly longer route but I think will be more fruitful in the end."

Grants were awarded to pay for the improvement works made in 2011, which came from the Derbyshire Economic Partnership and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Further contributions came from a private developer, a planning delivery grant, English Heritage and Derbyshire County Council.