Yep, It's Those Potholes Again!
By Laura_Spodula | Sunday, September 05, 2010, 19:55
I’m sure if you drive through Wisbech on any given day you
have been aware of the constant road works that have been diverting our traffic
flow for weeks on end due to the damaged buildings or flood prevention
measures. I am sure not that long ago
there was a small amount of road works at Chapel Road Car park due to potholes.
We all know how annoying and potentially dangerous potholes can be. Now, again
in that very same spot they have reappeared. In the very same place!
When the snow hit they were caused by bad weather but now
what can we blame it on? Could we possibly blame it on the workmanship that
filled in the holes or the process itself? Time and time again I am seeing the
same potholes reappear. Yes traffic flow
could be blamed but there is always going to be traffic there, does that mean
there will always be potholes? Is there not a better way of filling one in or
covering it up?
They are dangerous because drivers will often swerve out of
the way of them, which could effect on coming traffic and cause an accident.
There is another one close to the Vet Clinic that was the TSB. Cars are always
turning at that pothole which will have an effect on tyres, although thankfully
no one should be going particularly fast.
Barton Road is another place I am seeing potholes constantly
reappearing and drivers will go at faster speeds and avoiding these potholes
will be considerably more dangerous, even more so if you don’t and the tyre
blows and the car steers into the ditch.
Looking at the AA
website, it says in February last year there was a vast increase in the amount
of insurance claims for damage to cars caused by potholes, making it 2000
claims for that month alone. They estimate
that thousands more will be going unclaimed because they believe not to be
worth it. Drivers can also make claims to the appropriate highway authority for
any damage done to their cars from potholes.
An article published on their website on the 8th
March this year it says claims have increased by 600%! North Yorkshire County
Council have had to increase their council tax by 8p, calling it a pothole tax,
to help fund the programme to fix them all. What would people think if that
kind of tax was to be brought here? Council tax is enough already isn’t it!
The AA also lists a number of things that could be symptoms
of pothole damage which include loss of balance weights or the car pulling to
one side when driving in a straight line.
If you notice a pothole that you would like to be dealt with
then you can go to Fix My Street’s
website and point it out to them and they will send your complaint to the
council on your behalf. It does not have to be about potholes it could also be
about graffiti or broken paving slabs or anything of that nature. If you do
have something you want the council to deal with don’t hesitate to point it out
to them, you pay your taxes after all!
Comments
Briar_Rose - The Fens' roads, by their nature, suffer from continual damage because the earth here moves and shifts constantly beneath the roads. Add a couple of tough winters in and you can get a lot of damage. Meanwhile, the previous government spent all the money - then carried on spending and spending anyway. Thus creating the perfect storm - loads of necessary repairs and nowhere near enough money in the system to do them all. Nevertheless, for every pothole you bump over and notice - you DON'T notice all the ones that have been fixed. Because they're lovely and smooth. The consequence being that even if the council fixes fifty holes - its the fifty-first one you notice when you hit it. When I personally notice a pothole - I report it. If we all did that it would help, because then the local teams would have the intel to get to the most problematic ones first, and to fix them all in due course.
By Cllr Steve Tierney at 18:30 on 19/09/10
Reporti agree with Steve here. Too often people dont tell the councillors if a pot hole had been there for months and then complain nothing is being done, we need to know ! :)
By Samantha_Hoy at 11:28 on 19/09/10
ReportSurely the councillors themselves driving through the streets of Wisbech have noticed some of the horrific potholes that have gotten only worse during the wet weather.
By Wisbech People at 16:24 on 15/09/10
ReportI would not recommend using "Fix My Street" which is an independent website with little or no power.
If you see a pothole, phone the council and report it. If it is not fixed within two weeks phone your local councillor and tell them when you reported it and to whom (making it a good idea to note those things during the initial report).
Since you have elected representatives and a local council - why would you use an external website to pass your message? Its just an unnecessary middleman.
By Cllr Steve Tierney at 01:00 on 07/09/10
Report