A resident has criticised Southern Water over roadworks taking place in a tourism hot spot in the New Forest.

Roadworks began on Woodlands Road in Ashurst on August 5 with a digger breaking up sections of the road behind a temporary metal fence.

However, dog walker Ross Hyde from Ashurst told the Echo he’s only seen people working at the location twice in the more than two weeks since construction started.

The 34-year-old said: “I think companies need calling out for this sort of thing, especially when we’re all paying our bills, and you expect there to be a service in return and there’s been next to no work on Woodlands Road weeks after it started.

“It’s visible that a small trench has been dug to the side of the roadworks which prevents cars driving round – which I don’t think it a bad idea if that’s what they want to do.

"But it seems like more work has gone into digging that trench, restricting vehicle access, than has actually gone into the main works and it’s not clear what they’re trying to do.”

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Ross said a tourist bus is often used to transport visitors throughout the New Forest on Woodlands Road, but while the roadworks are taking place will be forced to go elsewhere.

“I know it’s important for the area to encourage tourism but if one of the main roads is closed, it’s doing the opposite,” said Ross.

“I appreciate if it’s important the roadworks have to be completed at some point, but it does make you question the timing.”

He added: “You can see the machinery just sat there. If it’s not going to be finished soon it just seems like a waste of time and money.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Southern Water said: “Our teams have been working on a complex water main repair at Woodlands Road in Ashurst.

“We required a road closure for engineers to carry out the work safely. The repair work is scheduled to be complete at the weekend and reinstatement work to finish on Tuesday, August 27.”