THINK you’re driven crazy by roadworks? Try living on the street that’s been dug up a whopping 500 times in the past two years.

Mike Sullivan-Jones, 67, who lives off Plumstead Common Road, discovered the figure after complaining to leader of Greenwich Conservatives Councillor Spencer Drury about the constant work on the street.

And when Cllr Drury questioned Greenwich Council on the issue he was told just how many separate schemes had been carried out there - an average of one every one-and-a-half days.

Mr Sullivan-Jones said: “We’ve had to face no end of temporary traffic lights, holes in the road and surrounding areas just fenced off and left unattended for months on end and a seemingly endless progression of works that continues to this day.

“One day, a company will dig up the road, work on it and then fill it in and resurface it, only for the next day another company to do the same thing.

“There is no coordination at all. Not only is this a criminal waste of public money but is also affecting local shops who have lost thousands of pounds in trade.”

The council’s reply revealed that four different utility companies were responsible for the schemes, many of which were only for minor work.

It apologised for the inconvenience, but said “such schemes are unavoidable if our infrastructure is to be maintained to the required standard.”

And there is no let off for the frustrated people of Plumstead Common Road, with further major work on victorian main pipes by Thames Water planned for the area.

Mr Sullivan-Jones, a retired building surveyor, said: “They were even digging the roads up again in all the snowy weather.

“Every time you go out you’re met by temporary traffic lights.

“It’s just been a nightmare to be honest.” News Shopper: Mike Sullivan-Jones on the street

Florist Maria Sultana, who works at Crimson Rose on the road’s parade of shops, agreed, saying: “Everyone has been affected by it. People can’t stop outside when there’s traffic lights out there.

“People start work and they just go away again. You don’t know what’s happening or when it’s going to finish.”

A spokesman for Thames Water said the company tried to share trenches with other utility companies where possible to minimise disruption.

Councillor Drury has criticised Greenwich Council for not signing up to a roadworks permit scheme run by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The scheme, signed up to by Lewisham Council among others, aims to encourage cooperation between utility companies by making them get a permit from the local authority before digging up a road or face a fine.

Cllr Drury said: “The majority of London boroughs are already part of this scheme, but Greenwich is, predictably, lagging behind.

“I urge the Labour party to stop putting party politics first and start working for the good of the people of Greenwich.”

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: "Greenwich Council recognises the need for better coordination of roadworks in the capital, and has signed up to join the London Permit Scheme for roadworks in 2011, with an expected start date of April 18.

"We support the moves by the Mayor of London who is pressing the government to extend the scheme and give local councils the power to charge lane rental fees for utility companies that repeatedly dig up the capital's roads."