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Driven potty by potholes
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| Glenburnie Road has been plagued by potholes |
Wandsworth motorists are being driven potty by unfilled and badly-repaired potholes.
The borough's council spent almost £1m less on road repairs last year than three years ago according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
Holes are particularly bad in Tooting's Franciscan and Glenburnie Roads as well as Putney's Westleigh Avenue and Putney Heath, say residents.
All four roads are thoroughfares used by scores of vehicles during the daily rush hour. Cyclists and motorcyclists are thought to be particularly at risk while riding their bikes over badly-repaired and unfilled holes.
The council blamed the decline in road repair on a bad cycle of funding from central Government.
In the 10 minutes it took for our photographer to take pictures of the holes in Franciscan Road at least 20 cars drove over them.
One motorist, Ted Basden, pulled over to examine the damage to his car caused by the holes.
He said: "I've just driven through a pothole and it must be six inches deep. My car is quite old but damage is being done that I will end up paying for. I know the council will fill them if you call them but to be honest that's not my job - I have a job."
Locals say Franciscan Road has been plagued by potholes for years.
| “It’s a disgrace. One gets filled then another pops up. Even if they fill them the tarmac gets spread across the road by the constant flow of cars. Not only is it dangerous but we pay council and road tax - what are we paying for exactly?” | | Jennifer Emerson |
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Former resident Jennifer Emerson said: "It's a disgrace. One gets filled then another pops up. Even if they fill them the tarmac gets spread across the road by the constant flow of cars. Not only is it dangerous but we pay council and road tax - what are we paying for exactly?"
A Freedom of Information request made by the Borough News revealed the council's total expenditure for footway and carriageway repairs during the last three financial years has declined by almost £1m.
In 2005 the council spent £3.1m, the following year it spent £2.5m and last year just £2.2m was spent.
The council said the decrease in spending was due to a "cyclical boost to funding" three years ago which had not been matched since. However the authority said it was expecting another "boost" soon.
A spokesman added: "We were already aware of the potholes in Franciscan Road as a result of our routine programme of inspections and it has already been programmed in for a repair. This should be completed in the next few days.
"If people are concerned about a pothole in their neighbourhood, if they report it to us we will always investigate and carry out full repairs where necessary."
8:28pm Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jean, Tooting on 9:40am Sat 10 May 08
I frequently report potholes and the council do absolutely nothing about them
I frequently report potholes and the council do absolutely nothing about them
Posted by: Andrew Dobbs, Furzedown, Tooting. on 8:33am Mon 12 May 08
It seems we are all plagued with potholes.
In Furzedown, the number of holes is increasing week on week but to add to this problem, it seems that we no longer have our streets swept. The loose road coverings are thrown up onto the road surface where they seem to sit for months.
It would make sense for us to be able to charge the council back for lack of Social responsiblity and Duty of Care.
It seems we are all plagued with potholes.
In Furzedown, the number of holes is increasing week on week but to add to this problem, it seems that we no longer have our streets swept. The loose road coverings are thrown up onto the road surface where they seem to sit for months.
It would make sense for us to be able to charge the council back for lack of Social responsiblity and Duty of Care.
Posted by: Stuart King, Putney on 9:01am Mon 12 May 08
You can see more examples of Wandsworth Council's neglect at:
http://www.stuartkin
g.net/blog/2008/02/p
utney-going-to-pot-h
oles.htm
You can see more examples of Wandsworth Council's neglect at:
http://www.stuartkin
g.net/blog/2008/02/p
utney-going-to-pot-h
oles.htm
Posted by: Stuart on 9:33am Mon 12 May 08
What do we pay road tax for? Surely it should all go to keeping our road good and safe, we pay road tax as well as the repair costs of new wheels and tyres. Government and councils are all money grabbers.
What do we pay road tax for? Surely it should all go to keeping our road good and safe, we pay road tax as well as the repair costs of new wheels and tyres. Government and councils are all money grabbers.
Posted by: carly, london on 9:44am Mon 12 May 08
The funny thing is, you get so used to where the potholes are, you know how to avoid & swerve round them!!
I went to do just that out of habit on Clapham Common & was actually shocked to see it was filled in!
Maybe there is someone in the council doing some work? who knows?
Either that or someone got fed up & done it themselves!!!
The funny thing is, you get so used to where the potholes are, you know how to avoid & swerve round them!!
I went to do just that out of habit on Clapham Common & was actually shocked to see it was filled in!
Maybe there is someone in the council doing some work? who knows?
Either that or someone got fed up & done it themselves!!!
Posted by: Jonathan Wadman, St John's Hill on 9:52am Mon 12 May 08
At the moment, as I'm sure many people have noticed, the council is spending a lot of time, care and money on renewing the pavement along Bolingbroke Grove, replacing what look like perfectly good concrete slabs with smaller multicoloured setts. Wouldn't the money be better spent on repairing potholes?
At the moment, as I'm sure many people have noticed, the council is spending a lot of time, care and money on renewing the pavement along Bolingbroke Grove, replacing what look like perfectly good concrete slabs with smaller multicoloured setts. Wouldn't the money be better spent on repairing potholes?
Posted by: ric, kingston on 12:00pm Mon 12 May 08
to answer the question. 'where does our road tax go'
the answer is on cameras. those camera that fine you for going in a bus lane. or speeding, going through an amber light, or feeding a meter.
those same cameras that havent improved road safety.
they are happy with us skidding around on marbles over potholes. clearly its safe enough.
to answer the question. 'where does our road tax go'
the answer is on cameras. those camera that fine you for going in a bus lane. or speeding, going through an amber light, or feeding a meter.
those same cameras that havent improved road safety.
they are happy with us skidding around on marbles over potholes. clearly its safe enough.
Posted by: G.Virr, Sunbury Common on 2:52pm Mon 12 May 08
The pot-holes and the other obvious signs of both lack of maintenance and down-right bad workmanship are seen throughout the South of England. It is the direct result of the current National Government starving the South of England of adequate funding for many years. That followed on the previous National Government also playing funny games with the funding of local government. Local councillors do not help with both their own funny games to favour certain areas and their unjustifiable defence of bad workmanship by the contractors to whom they award over long contracts for reason's one can only guess at.
The Government Quango "The Audit Commission" does not help as they continue to rate highly councils who obviously, blatantly and consistently neglect their local infra-structure for what ever reason.
More people need to take an active interest in their local government's activities.
More young councillors, preferably independent ones, are needed to evict the old long serving party-hacks who use the post of councillor to provide easy money to supplement their pensions.
The pot-holes and the other obvious signs of both lack of maintenance and down-right bad workmanship are seen throughout the South of England. It is the direct result of the current National Government starving the South of England of adequate funding for many years. That followed on the previous National Government also playing funny games with the funding of local government. Local councillors do not help with both their own funny games to favour certain areas and their unjustifiable defence of bad workmanship by the contractors to whom they award over long contracts for reason's one can only guess at.
The Government Quango "The Audit Commission" does not help as they continue to rate highly councils who obviously, blatantly and consistently neglect their local infra-structure for what ever reason.
More people need to take an active interest in their local government's activities.
More young councillors, preferably independent ones, are needed to evict the old long serving party-hacks who use the post of councillor to provide easy money to supplement their pensions.
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