A NEW road surface on one of the main routes into Swindon is more like a skid pan in the wet, claim people who work nearby.

Swindon Council is launching an investigation into the resurfaced stretch of Marlborough Road, from Newport Street to Signal Way in Old Town.

The road was patched on July 8 and sprayed with rejuvenating material last Thursday, and grit was put down to ensure the surface was skid resis-tant.

But people working nearby say that since the repairs there have been near-accidents and shunts.

On Monday a Ford Fiesta was in collision with a Porsche near the Arriva Ford office opposite Old Mill Lane.

Jackie Rooke, 47, purchase ledger supervisor at Arriva Ford, said: "We hear a screech of brakes every day from the road.

"It is more slippery since it has been resurfaced, even to walk on."

Another worker at Arriva said a motorcyclist almost lost control as he rode his machine from the Signal Way roundabout towards High Street.

Kelven Retter, 44, branch manager at nearby tyre suppliers ATS, said: "I have noticed a difference and there was quite a severe shunt on Saturday morning. There is a lot of braking which sounds as if horrendous accidents are about to happen."

Swindon Council spokesman Lynda Fleming said: "We had one phone call on Monday saying the road was slippery and we've asked the con-tractor Asphalt Systems International to come out and test whether the skid resistance is as it should be.

"Until we get the report, we won't know whether any further action is needed.

"There were signs at either end warning that roadworks had been carried out. On Monday there was also a lot of rain and drivers should have been slowing down and leaving adequate braking distance."