Council was ‘irresponsible’ to ignore pothole dangers

Road maintenance campaign website Potholes.co.uk has slammed a parish council in Essex for deliberately ignoring potholes and viewing them instead as ‘traffic calming’ measures.

Navestock Parish Council in Essex declared yesterday (April 15) that it was not going to report potholes to Essex County Council, which is responsible for the roads in its area, in the hope that the craters would slow down passing traffic.

Potholes.co.uk recently revealed that the UK’s 30 million motorists collectively pay £1 million a day repairing damage to their vehicles done by potholes, with the average repair bill amounting to £240.

The county council has since vowed to make any arrangements necessary to fill in existing potholes as soon as possible, but Potholes.co.uk spokesman, Duncan McClure Fisher, said he was appalled by the ignorance of Navestock parish councillors.

“It’s unbelievable that councillors, who have a duty of care to their residents, would actively choose to leave potholes unfilled,” said McClure Fisher. “Quite apart from the cost of repairing damage to their vehicles, which can run into the thousands, drivers in the area would be exposed to dangerous driving conditions. Cyclists and motorcyclists would be particularly at risk and it’s enormously irresponsible of the council to put these people at risk of injury or death for the sake of ‘guerilla’ traffic calming methods.”

Norman Hume, Essex County Council’s cabinet minister for highways and transportation, said this morning that its policy of filling in all potholes “as soon as is practical” would continue despite Navestock councillors’ views.

McClure Fisher added: “At least the highway authority is talking sense. Leaving potentially dangerous potholes open would result only in the county council having to deal with many more claims for compensation from drivers who have hit them, so it’s not surprising they have dismissed Navestock Parish Council’s ridiculous plan.”

For the latest news and advice about potholes, or to report a pothole, visit potholes.co.uk