Okay this is a serious rant as I am quite worried about the state of our side roads and pot holes. I was driving on Sunday in another town not mine and the roads were not even passible in places! I know the weather has been bad but I am really worried that unless a major programme is put in place that there will be accidents.
I never usually feel like writing to local papers but on this one I may just have to put pen to paper and complain. Its incredible how bad they are and I do not believe its just the bad weather. To me it looks like years of neglect that has started to surface with the coldest winter for a long time.
Where I actually live, the holes were starting to be filled as soon as the weather got a bit better!
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Pot Holes
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Corrie...as you can see from my profile pics, I have a big expensive powerful motorbike, that just loves a pot hole........not.
Last year on a few occasions I was nearly thrown off and this year the roads are without doubt the worst I have ever seen them in over 30 years of driving.
Forget the excuses they will give about the weather, that is just bollox. Over the last 30 years we have had worse winters than the one we have just had, but the roads were repaired and not " patched up ".
The councils will not spend the money on the roads. They say they have not got the money, but with councils like mine who waste money everyday of the week, I am not suprised.
IF a motorcyclist is injured because of the roads, I hope they sue the council concerned for millions.
God I hate local councils.
Last year on a few occasions I was nearly thrown off and this year the roads are without doubt the worst I have ever seen them in over 30 years of driving.
Forget the excuses they will give about the weather, that is just bollox. Over the last 30 years we have had worse winters than the one we have just had, but the roads were repaired and not " patched up ".
The councils will not spend the money on the roads. They say they have not got the money, but with councils like mine who waste money everyday of the week, I am not suprised.
IF a motorcyclist is injured because of the roads, I hope they sue the council concerned for millions.
God I hate local councils.
It's a sad reflection of the state of public finances - there does not appear to be funding for even basic essential repairs at times, yet there is talk about grand schemes, some of which materialise and others come to nothing.
Good luck with your letters to the press, but they will probably be of no avail.
Plim :sad:
Good luck with your letters to the press, but they will probably be of no avail.
Plim :sad:
Its always the same, blame the council, blame the weather.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
Quote by duncanlondon
Its always the same, blame the council, blame the weather.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
Sorry mate what a silly analogy.
The councils ARE RESPONSIBLE for the upkeep of the roads, and the weather is just an excuse they use all the time. The main problems is that over many years local councils do not repair the roads properly, they only patch them. Which means when a bad winter does come along then the roads break up twice as fast.
Whether it be 4x4 drivers or lorry drivers, or anyone else you want to blame, they all pay their road tax to use the roads. A tax btw that was always intended to repair the roads, but we all know only a tiny ammount of that money goes to that cause, the main ammount goes straight into the Governments coffers.
Bottom line here is the councils are at fault for years of under funding on our roads.
Yes I will blame the councils, but I will not put up with their weak excuses.
Get the broom out time, and blame everything else apart from the real causes.
Quote by duncanlondon
Its always the same, blame the council, blame the weather.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
If you care to come up to my part of the world, I will show you that virtually every bloody road seems to be full of potholes, so we "thicko drivers" have no alternative but to keep driving upon them.
As others have said in this thread, it IS the local councils' duty to maintain our roads but they are patched up rather than repaired properly and no doubt with the huge cuts in public spending that await, the situation will only get worse.
In one area I was driving in all the side roads were the same. Maybe Duncan you are just pissed off by 4x4 drivers but the area I am on about doesnt have 4x4 cars. The problem was there was no way of driving around the holes as some were 6 foot long and four foot wide.I dont moan unless I believe there is a real problem arising. This time I do believe there is and therefore I will complain.
There's a great site that names and shames councils into action.
Register your pothole or any other kind of issue (street lights, dogs, fly tipping etc) at and try to make a difference.
Also your local council's website can be used to report potholes.
It's only when we, their paymasters, complain that they will take any notice and do the job they are being well paid to do.
Register your pothole or any other kind of issue (street lights, dogs, fly tipping etc) at and try to make a difference.
Also your local council's website can be used to report potholes.
It's only when we, their paymasters, complain that they will take any notice and do the job they are being well paid to do.
Quote by swcpl2005
There's a great site that names and shames councils into action.
Register your pothole or any other kind of issue (street lights, dogs, fly tipping etc) at and try to make a difference.
Also your local council's website can be used to report potholes.
It's only when we, their paymasters, complain that they will take any notice and do the job they are being well paid to do.
My God I so love your avatar picture.
Sex God
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Quote by Staggerlee_BB
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Yes, good idea, after all that £50 billion pound annual tax take from motorists is obviously not nearly enough. Why not milk the cow for cash even more?
Or then again, local and central government could actually ensure that roads are laid properly in the first place and that any subsequent repairs by contractors following trenching/digging operations are properly done to a recognised standard with the contractor 100% liable if a pot hole subsequently appears.
But that would never happen, not when the tax payer is there with an open wallet or purse.
Quote by kentswingers777
Its always the same, blame the council, blame the weather.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
Sorry mate what a silly analogy.
The councils ARE RESPONSIBLE for the upkeep of the roads, and the weather is just an excuse they use all the time. The main problems is that over many years local councils do not repair the roads properly, they only patch them. Which means when a bad winter does come along then the roads break up twice as fast.
Whether it be 4x4 drivers or lorry drivers, or anyone else you want to blame, they all pay their road tax to use the roads. A tax btw that was always intended to repair the roads, but we all know only a tiny ammount of that money goes to that cause, the main ammount goes straight into the Governments coffers.
Bottom line here is the councils are at fault for years of under funding on our roads.
Yes I will blame the councils, but I will not put up with their weak excuses.
Get the broom out time, and blame everything else apart from the real causes.
You standing for council then?
BTW, I know finding logical inconsistencies in your posts is like trying to find a stalk in a haystack, but attacking the government for using road tax for other things then blaming local councils for the under funding of road repairs is a glaring non sequitur.
Ain't you the clever one.
Ok clever cloggs....who pays for the repairs to our local roads? NOT the motorways but the roads in our boroughs??
Because a mate of mine has his own business repairing roads, and he invoices the local councils.
I do love it when you answer my questions with an answer that has no relevance whatsoever, still nothing new there then eh?
Have a little gander at this one...
This one is for the motorways....
Just in case you did not know.
Ok clever cloggs....who pays for the repairs to our local roads? NOT the motorways but the roads in our boroughs??
Because a mate of mine has his own business repairing roads, and he invoices the local councils.
I do love it when you answer my questions with an answer that has no relevance whatsoever, still nothing new there then eh?
Have a little gander at this one...
This one is for the motorways....
Just in case you did not know.
Quote by swcpl2005
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Yes, good idea, after all that £50 billion pound annual tax take from motorists is obviously not nearly enough. Why not milk the cow for cash even more?
Or then again, local and central government could actually ensure that roads are laid properly in the first place and that any subsequent repairs by contractors following trenching/digging operations are properly done to a recognised standard with the contractor 100% liable if a pot hole subsequently appears.
But that would never happen, not when the tax payer is there with an open wallet or purse.
So, you're a poor downtrodden taxpayer. Do you think council employees get their pay tax free for doing no work?
You do know that many unclassified roads haven't been properly rebuilt since they were laid between world war one and two don't you? You do know that greedy farmers who grub our hedges and fill in ditches have screwed up the drainage on many unclassified roads don't you? You do know that unplanned for levels of parking on urban roads make it impossible to do gully clearance, meaning drains block and roads flood more frequently don't you? That's when they're not being flooded by block paved driveways that channel rainwater straight onto roads....
Oh, and that most of our roads were engineered when the maximum weight of an HGV was half of what it is today....
Apologies for the rant, but spare us the downtrodden taxpayer bit, as if you're some kind of a minority.
Quote by awayman
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Yes, good idea, after all that £50 billion pound annual tax take from motorists is obviously not nearly enough. Why not milk the cow for cash even more?
Or then again, local and central government could actually ensure that roads are laid properly in the first place and that any subsequent repairs by contractors following trenching/digging operations are properly done to a recognised standard with the contractor 100% liable if a pot hole subsequently appears.
But that would never happen, not when the tax payer is there with an open wallet or purse.
So, you're a poor downtrodden taxpayer. Do you think council employees get their pay tax free for doing no work?
You do know that many unclassified roads haven't been properly rebuilt since they were laid between world war one and two don't you? You do know that greedy farmers who grub our hedges and fill in ditches have screwed up the drainage on many unclassified roads don't you? You do know that unplanned for levels of parking on urban roads make it impossible to do gully clearance, meaning drains block and roads flood more frequently don't you? That's when they're not being flooded by block paved driveways that channel rainwater straight onto roads....
Oh, and that most of our roads were engineered when the maximum weight of an HGV was half of what it is today....
Apologies for the rant, but spare us the downtrodden taxpayer bit, as if you're some kind of a minority.
Can you supply proper links for all that?
You obviously work for the council, do not drive a car, want cycle lanes so you can cycle to work, hate the Daily Mail, and have knowledge of everything including the inside workings of a hedgehog.
:lol:I wish I had you as a teacher when I was younger....I would be PM by now.
Quote by duncanlondon
Its always the same, blame the council, blame the weather.
What about blaming the thicko drivers for continuing to drive on the road and making the potholes worse. Who else is doing it?
They could find a better route. don't tell me every square footage of tarmac is potholed.
And who started the potholes in the first place? Effing 4x4 drivers no doubt.
Anyway we need new landfill sites to get rid of our rubbish. So a few potholes with festering garbage won't be a problem.
Oh dear, oh dear .......
I really hope that these were meant 'tongue in cheek' !
Quote by kentswingers777
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Yes, good idea, after all that £50 billion pound annual tax take from motorists is obviously not nearly enough. Why not milk the cow for cash even more?
Or then again, local and central government could actually ensure that roads are laid properly in the first place and that any subsequent repairs by contractors following trenching/digging operations are properly done to a recognised standard with the contractor 100% liable if a pot hole subsequently appears.
But that would never happen, not when the tax payer is there with an open wallet or purse.
So, you're a poor downtrodden taxpayer. Do you think council employees get their pay tax free for doing no work?
You do know that many unclassified roads haven't been properly rebuilt since they were laid between world war one and two don't you? You do know that greedy farmers who grub our hedges and fill in ditches have screwed up the drainage on many unclassified roads don't you? You do know that unplanned for levels of parking on urban roads make it impossible to do gully clearance, meaning drains block and roads flood more frequently don't you? That's when they're not being flooded by block paved driveways that channel rainwater straight onto roads....
Oh, and that most of our roads were engineered when the maximum weight of an HGV was half of what it is today....
Apologies for the rant, but spare us the downtrodden taxpayer bit, as if you're some kind of a minority.
Can you supply proper links for all that?
You obviously work for the council, do not drive a car, want cycle lanes so you can cycle to work, hate the Daily Mail, and have knowledge of everything including the inside workings of a hedgehog.
:lol:I wish I had you as a teacher when I was younger....I would be PM by now.
Supply links? Like you do? I can't be bothered tonight. Ask any highways engineer though. Take a bike along my favourite roads, over places like Otterburn, and you can see the causes of the damage.
Cycle to work? Not me mate. Work from home and use the car when I have to.
I know nothing about hedgehogs, except that if handled wrongly then, like the BNP they involve a lot of pricks.
Lord knows what you might have been if you'd had a teacher when you were younger - would tolerance have been too much to hope for?
Tolerance is a word that is used far too often nowadays...it is a bit like trust...it has to be earned and is not a right.
Obviously you are a bit tired tonight to find those links, maybe there are not any.
Do council workers work from home now then?
Goodnight from him...and goodnight from him too.
Obviously you are a bit tired tonight to find those links, maybe there are not any.
Do council workers work from home now then?
Goodnight from him...and goodnight from him too.
More whinging going on as usual. I mean what does it cost to throw in a bag or two of rapid setting post concrete. A few quid and your road is sorted. I suppose if it had gravel on it you'd think it was a driveway.
For gods sake, you'll all be demanding climate control next. Put that on the agenda in your next council tax meeting.
For gods sake, you'll all be demanding climate control next. Put that on the agenda in your next council tax meeting.
Sexlightened
Corrie...as you can see from my profile pics, I have a big expensive powerful motorbike that does not go at the min,lol that just loves a pot hole........not.
quote]
i was just saying yesterday glad we in the car and not bike, holes everywhere.
quote]
i was just saying yesterday glad we in the car and not bike, holes everywhere.
Quote by kentswingers777
Tolerance is a word that is used far too often nowadays...it is a bit like trust...it has to be earned and is not a right.
Obviously you are a bit tired tonight to find those links, maybe there are not any.
Do council workers work from home now then?
Goodnight from him...and goodnight from him too.
Dunno Kenty - ask your local council - it saves lots of money so lots of them do it...
Potholes and weather?
Blocked ditches?
N.B that it's the landowner who has to clear them, not the council
Fill yer boots...
Quote by awayman
Perhaps an increase in taxes on motorists would be a good idea to raise more funds for road repairs.
Yes, good idea, after all that £50 billion pound annual tax take from motorists is obviously not nearly enough. Why not milk the cow for cash even more?
Or then again, local and central government could actually ensure that roads are laid properly in the first place and that any subsequent repairs by contractors following trenching/digging operations are properly done to a recognised standard with the contractor 100% liable if a pot hole subsequently appears.
But that would never happen, not when the tax payer is there with an open wallet or purse.
So, you're a poor downtrodden taxpayer. Do you think council employees get their pay tax free for doing no work?
Tax free? No. For doing no work......undoubtedly yes in some instances
You do know that many unclassified roads haven't been properly rebuilt since they were laid between world war one and two don't you? You do know that greedy farmers who grub our hedges and fill in ditches have screwed up the drainage on many unclassified roads don't you? You do know that unplanned for levels of parking on urban roads make it impossible to do gully clearance, meaning drains block and roads flood more frequently don't you? That's when they're not being flooded by block paved driveways that channel rainwater straight onto roads....
Oh, and that most of our roads were engineered when the maximum weight of an HGV was half of what it is today....
swcpl2005 are correct about the roads being laid correctly in the first place. I travel on the "new" dual carriageway that runs behind Shiremoor on a daily basis. This road is less than 2 years old and is already falling apart........and as far as I'm aware it's not prone to flooding and is not heavily used ( if at all) by HGVs
Sex God
Good thread but surprising that no one has actually mentioned the reason for the massive increase in potholes over the last few weeks.
Water gets into cracks in the road surface and when it freezes it expands and makes the crack bigger, vehicles pass over and erode away the crack to become a hole and the cycle continues.
Can't believe anyone really supports the underfunding of local councils to ensure that the roads are repaired to an acceptable standard. As for blaming 4x4's, good grief what else can we blame the 4x4 for? Envy is such a raw emotion.
Water gets into cracks in the road surface and when it freezes it expands and makes the crack bigger, vehicles pass over and erode away the crack to become a hole and the cycle continues.
Can't believe anyone really supports the underfunding of local councils to ensure that the roads are repaired to an acceptable standard. As for blaming 4x4's, good grief what else can we blame the 4x4 for? Envy is such a raw emotion.
A standard car has 2 wheels which are driven, from which comes the necessary torque to erode the roads and create potholes. a 4x4 has four driven wheels thus creating twice as much erosion. And I expect every 4x4 driver had all wheels engaged, that's the whole point of having such a vehicle.
people are envious of power and its potential but not if its used incorrectly, unwisely or wastefully.
people are envious of power and its potential but not if its used incorrectly, unwisely or wastefully.
Quote by awayman
Tolerance is a word that is used far too often nowadays...it is a bit like trust...it has to be earned and is not a right.
Obviously you are a bit tired tonight to find those links, maybe there are not any.
Do council workers work from home now then?
Goodnight from him...and goodnight from him too.
Dunno Kenty - ask your local council - it saves lots of money so lots of them do it...
Potholes and weather?
Blocked ditches?
N.B that it's the landowner who has to clear them, not the council
Fill yer boots...
Blimey.....I bet you was up half the night looking for that lot.
Well done....get yourself a gold star from teacher. :wink:
