Abandoned repairs drive district potty

THE scene in Horest Lane

HOLES in the road are driving Saddleworth residents round the bend.

Long-suffering householders in rural Horest Lane, Denshaw, were delighted when workmen arrived to repair potholes.

But their relief turned to annoyance when the men disappeared and, a fortnight later, they had still not come back to complete the job.

Resident Glynis Bruce said: “The workmen came and dug trenches from one side of the lane to the other. But then they left and did not put any warning signs in the road.

“There is a lot of water running down and this has made things worse.

“It is awful going over the potholes and I am sure they will damage the cars of residents and those driving to the near-by nursery.

“Sometimes, when there is water covering the potholes, drivers drive over them quite quickly without realising and then get a shock when they bang their cars in the hole.

“There is a strong possibility of them claiming compensation from the council.”

Horest Lane residents have already had a battle with Oldham Council over a partially repaired wall which was left for many months.

Meanwhile, reports say that councils are spending more on pothole compensation claims from motorists than they are on repairing them.

The Local Government Association said £53 million was spent on damage claims last year - outstripping the £52.3 million spent on repairing potholes.

Tony Noblet, Oldham Council’s service director for roads, said pothole repairs should have been completed and an inspection would be made shortly with a view to more remedial work.