An investigation has been launched after women in Gloucester complained about intimidating catcalling from an £18 million construction site in the city centre.
They say they are disgusted at the actions of some workers at the Blackfriars site where a new student accommodation complex is taking shape.
The latest incident was witnessed by student Mel James who saw one of the builders shouting at a woman who was walking past the site.
She says she heard one man say ‘Open your a***hole’, while thrusting at the woman, before yelling: ‘What time is it love? Bedtime.’
Mel, a student at the University of Gloucestershire, was with her grandmother at the time, around 9am on Thursday.
She said: “I was absolutely disgusted that it happened. I’m sorry for the woman it happened to and angry that it happened in the first place. My 82-year-old grandmother heard it, and so could have any children walking about. I just hope the right action is taken.”
Main contractor Vinci Construction UK says it is now urgently investigating the ‘unacceptable’ behaviour.
Another student who lives in Gloucester said she had also been targetted by workmen.
She said: “Three of them blocked my path, they wouldn’t let me get past and were saying things like, ‘you’re pretty aren’t you, pretty girl’. I just put my head down and walked into the road to get round them.”
She added: “I bought criminal identifier spray because so many incidents like that kept happening.”
The building scheme being developed by specialist firm Cityheart will provide 295 bedrooms amongst other facilities for students at the University of Gloucestershire, and is set to be completed in September this year.
In a statement, Vinci said: “VINCI Construction UK are investigating a matter which took place last week near one of our sites. We understand a passer-by was verbally abused. This is unacceptable and we do not tolerate any form of sexism. We take this report very seriously and will be undertaking an investigation immediately with appropriate action. We apologise to anyone involved.”
The firm said it had also sent a reminder to all its sites about the behaviour it expected.
It is not known whether the men concerned were working for Vinci or for a sub-contractor.
Vinci’s policies include one on fairness, inclusion and respect, which says: “We oppose all forms of inappropriate behaviour, unlawful and unfair discrimination.”
A separate policy on commitment to the community adds: “We foster goodwill and understanding of the community by being a good neighbour and working hard to minimise the impact of our operations.”
