North Lincolnshire road repairs will be patchy due to holes in funding
WORK has started on repairing about 7,000 potholes in North Lincolnshire – but motorists have been warned cash is scarce and to be patient.
Council chiefs say that due to Government cuts of more than £1.2 million, only the most urgent cases will be given top priority.
Eight two-man teams have been working on the task and, so far, have temporarily repaired about 800 potholes.
The holes opened up after the region was blasted by arctic temperatures plunging to -17C in December, along with up to 15 inches of snow.
The council has pledged to deal with the biggest and deepest potholes first, which are classed as urgent.
This means that other smaller, less urgent potholes in the same road might not be treated at the same time.
Councillor Bernard Regan, Cabinet member for highways and planning at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "The issue of potholes is a local and national problem that won't go away.
"We've had a spell of unprecedented bad weather that has resulted in thousands of potholes appearing.
"We are doing all we can to repair them with the money available to us, but it's not been easy.
"We've had a £1.2 million cut to our highways funding and that's a huge amount.
"This makes it very difficult to do all the work we had hoped to do.
"We are pressing to obtain further financial help and we hope that the Government sees sense and helps us deal with the problem. In the short term, we have eight gangs currently working on the potholes that pose a potential hazard on main roads.
"Other potholes on side streets and low-speed areas may have to wait until the spring.
"We would appeal to the public to report significant problems in their areas so we can prepare a strategic map to programme and cost the work involved."
Retired driving instructor Jim Riggans of Leaburn Road, Messingham, said he felt more needed to be done to combat the problem.
He said: "It is not just a nuisance, in that it is damaging cars, it is getting dangerous.
"People are swerving to miss the holes, which isn't helping with driving.
"The council is not doing enough and needs to get its priorities right.
"Scotter Road was very bad but it has been filled that in, so the council has made a start, but it can't spend enough getting them all filled in for safety."
During the big freeze, the council used about 6,000 tonnes of grit and completed 65 grit runs on primary routes, twice as much as a normal winter.
Work on the potholes is expected to finish by the end of February.
Officials are working on producing a full programme of work to carry out permanent pothole repairs, although this is subject to available funding.
To report a pothole, call the council on 01724 297000.
16 Comments
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by Scunny, Scunthorpe
Monday, January 17 2011, 9:31AM
“@ Steve, No, no, please don't encourage NLC to put cyclists on footpaths. Footpaths are for pedestrians who are alreadyb being squeezed out and put at risk by cycle paths being put on footpaths. Cyclists belong on the road where they should conform to the Highway Code and be treated with respect with motorists. Good cyclists are OK, it's the many bad ones who flout the law who put themselves and others at risk whether they're cycling illegally on footpath or road. The schemes at Queensway and Rowland Road are ridiculously. They actually increase problems for cyclists, present hazards to vehicles through their varying kerblines and cause congestion.”
by Steve, Scunny
Monday, January 17 2011, 8:50AM
“I agree with most of the comments on cyclists! When are those cyclists that flout the law on a daily basis going to be treated in the same manor as motorists?
Why spend all that money on Queensway roundabout to, supposedly make cyclists safe, when the majority don't use the safe route and instead carryon on the road, putting themselves at even more risk from motorists as the road is now even narrower? The cyclists seem intent on using the footpaths so why don't NLC put all cyclists on the footpaths and if they go on the road fine them for causing congestion!
It's about time cyclists had their bikes confiscated for not obeying the law, just the same as motorists are threatened with and in my opinion should be forced to pay basic insurance as a minimum!
As for the potholes, if NLC used their heads, in many cases it's quicker, cheaper and a better job to take up strips of road and relay rather than 50 patches to do the same job, that are little more than tarmac slung down and jumped up and down on!
Definitely a Bodgit and Scarper job!”
by tony, Sunthorpe
Monday, January 17 2011, 8:33AM
“"Other potholes on side streets and low-speed areas may have to wait until the spring"
A bit worrying this MAY HAVE TO WAIT, does that mean they MAY NOT GET DONE EITHER??
Behonest about it council...................oh wait what am i on amou this is GOVERNMENT........”
by anticyclistsontheroad, Scunthorpe
Sunday, January 16 2011, 8:49PM
“DD,Scunny,
Work it out for yourself and as
for run them over,i stick by that statement.
Most cyclists nowadays have no regard for the highway code and deserve to be ran over.”
by Sauce for goose, sauce for gander
Sunday, January 16 2011, 8:39PM
“How about "Council tax payments will be patchy until services paid for are supplied" Members of the public are asking the council to be patient as cash is scarce. Priority payments will be made as and when the council actually get off their backsides and do some work. Etc. etc.”
by DD, Scunny
Sunday, January 16 2011, 8:24PM
“Unreal, I can only hope there's some irony in that response . . . . it's 'their IQ' and 'amoeba'
And what about your run them over statement - how embarassing.”
by anticyclistsontheroad, Scunthorpe
Sunday, January 16 2011, 6:28PM
“DD,Scunny,
So i missed the L off the end,at least i can spell unlike most of the half wits who post on here,they would struggle matching there IQ with that of an ameba.”
by DD, Scunny
Sunday, January 16 2011, 4:27PM
“I'm with you about the road tax Rambling Syd, I don't moan about the price of that, or petrol really, but the roads really are a disgrace, it's like a 3rd world country in some places. Can't agree about the cyclists tho, I do both and there's room for us all if we take a bit of care and look around us, motorists are as bad as cyclists.
Also, anticyclistontheroad, Scunthorpe, are 'trivia offences' punishments for getting quiz questions wrong ? What's the capital or Peru sir, errrr, Lisbon ? NOPE son, of to court with you for trivia offences . . . . . .
Run them over, what an idiot ! !”
by The Voice of Reason, In front of my PC
Sunday, January 16 2011, 12:23PM
“Cycling for ever, that just reinforces my statement about the Councils vendetta against the motorist, one of the busiest junctions and what do they put a cycle lane across it, this recent bad weather has shown how dangerous these sleeping policeman are (not just these), you just managed to get up to the junction and then have to try and climb over one of these stupid humps without sliding into on coming traffic on the Kingsway, the one on Brumby wood lane is worse after getting up the hill you lose all momentum on the hump, as for the right of way, I was not complaining about that just the humps, if you as a cyclist cannot follow lines painted on the road and cope with a dropped kerb then get a car”
by rambling syd, at home
Saturday, January 15 2011, 10:54PM
“Cycles for Ever, Cycling Home
I hope you're not one of the cyclists who don't have lights at night & switch from footpath to road as it suits, ignoring traffic lights etc!”