Potholes: a problem getting crater
Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date published: 31 March 2011
BRITAIN’S roads are deteriorating at a rapid rate as the number of potholes passes two million for the first time.
A survey by ALARM (Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance) conducted on behalf of the AIA (Asphalt Industry Alliance), shows that in 2010, 2,202,000 potholes were filled in — a 59 per cent increase on the previous year.
The increase ties in with an AA survey in which 86 per cent of drivers in the North-West said the condition of roads has deteriorated over the last three years.
The rise in potholes is due to the cumulative effect of three harsh winters on a fragile local road network.
The Government announced an extra £100 million pothole fund in last week’s budget but the one-off investment needed to get the country’s roads back to a reasonable standard is estimated to be £10.65 billion.
Earlier this month, Oldham Council announced a £10 million Highways Investment Programme to fix the borough’s worst roads — as nominated by ward councillors — over the next four years.
The authority also received £600,743 of Government funding — more than most other councils in Greater Manchester — for pothole repairs.
Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “We are making real strides but some roads that are badly affected will have to wait to be fixed because there is retaining wall work in progress or major gas work due to start so there is no point digging the same road up twice.
“Repair work couldn’t be done over the winter as temperatures have to reach 3C for Tarmac to seal properly. We are working hard to improve the standard of repairs carried out so the job is done properly first time.
“It is an awfully big job but Oldham Council is doing a lot more work than surrounding local authorities and I think the future of the borough’s roads is looking bright.”
Final journey a bumpy one
GRIEVING families face a very bumpy journey to Lees Cemetery. The High Street and top part of Thomas Street were resurfaced last year but the surrounding roads have been left untouched.
Christine Hampshire has lived in Spring Lane for the past four years and thinks the roads have definitely deteriorated in that time.
She said: “Spring Lane, the bottom part of Thomas Street and West Street are just awful.
“Some of the potholes are filled in when they are reported but it is just a patch-up job so it’s never long before they have caved in again.
“It’s awful watching hearses making their way to Lees Cemetery as Thomas Street is really bumpy — it’s so undignified for families watching their loved ones bump around like that. The road directly outside the cemetery gates is terrible and got so bad that it was stripped back to the cobbles.”
