Residents claim millions over 'slothful' road works

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY (TRANSLATED)
Residents of the Nordau area in Herzliya are demanding millions of shekels in compensation from the city over the noise, dirt and inconvenience they claim to have endured during two years of infrastructure work in their neighborhood, reports www.local.co.il. Lawyers for the residents sent a letter to Mayor Yael German and to the Herzliya Development Company demanding some NIS 220,000 in compensation for each family, saying that the work had been managed inefficiently and had caused serious problems for residents of the area. According to the report, residents of the streets Nordau, Hamidron, Hayated, Fishman, Yordot Yam and several others have issued a joint claim against the city for some NIS 220,000 in compensation for each property. In their letter, the residents say that extensive work to upgrade the sewer system, lighting, roads and sidewalks in their area began at the end of 2006 and has still not been finished. They say they were not informed or consulted about the project or its progress, and that they have been seriously inconvenienced by the work, with roads being opened and closed without warning and with their being left without access to their homes for extended periods. "The work itself has been managed slothfully, without the required continuity, without efficiency, and apparently without engaging sufficient manpower and equipment in the project," the letter said. It added that the residents had suffered from severe noise hazards, dust, mud, open holes, blocked roads and other obstacles. The report said that a municipal spokesman had responded that the city would answer the claims after studying the letter.