TWO companies are gearing up to rip up parts of central Marlow, plunging the town into renewed traffic chaos.

Residents had hoped they had seen the last of roadworks in the town centre after enduring three months of 'hell' at the hands of Cable and Wireless.

Transco will be tearing up Dedmere Road following Cable and Wireless' work earlier this year and BT will be working in Spittal Street on April 8. The Transco work is set to begin in late June.

Householders in Dedmere Road suffered flooding and road closures when Cable and Wireless worked on the road from November through to February. Residents say cracked drains, pipes and sewers caused flooding and blockages along the road.

The same strip is to be dug up by Transco over an eight-week period leaving residents and councillors asking why the work could not have been done at the same time.

Hilda Hindes, of Dedmere Road, said: "We are absolutely fed up with the whole issue. Why couldn't they have done it all in one go? It was absolute hell with Cable and Wireless and now it looks like we will have to endure it again."

Cllr James Campbell (Lib Dem) said: "It is democracy gone mad. Why couldn't all this be co-ordinated?"

Buckinghamshire County Council says it has done its very best to co-ordinate works but it has no statutory rights to control when companies carry out their work.

Transco are no strangers to Marlow roads. The company was digging up Newtown Road at the beginning of this year.

John Powers, of Newtown Road, said: "They caused a lot of problems for me. They dug-up the road in front of my house and I could not get in or out of my drive for a month."

A spokesman for Transco said: "We do co-ordinate all roadworks through local authorities but for various reasons it is not always possible for works to be carried out at the same time.

"Wherever we carry out works we are aware it has an impact on local residents and wherever possible aim to minimise this. We will be liaising with local residents nearer the time."

A spokesman for Cable and Wireless said: "Whilst every care is taken to minimise any inconvenience to local residents and motorists, some disruption may occur. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."