A Tale of Two Counties
Posted on October 17th, 2011
Potholes are never far off the top of any list compiled about a motorists pet hates, and the stark contrast in how local authorities deal with the problem throughout the UK has been amply illustrated this week.
Difference in approach
It is no secret that motorists hate potholes, they are responsible for thousands of motor insurance claims every year and as such adds to the cost of motor insurance quotes on a grand scale. As winter approaches the quality of work carried out by many local authorities after the nightmare conditions of last year will soon be put to the test, but even before winter bites the attitude between different councils has been very noticeable.
Public complaints
After the end of one of Lancashire’s worst winters in decades the state of the roads in the county were appalling. The local authority came under pressure not just from motoring organisations but from all and sundry. Newspapers launched a campaign encouraging readers to pinpoint the worst potholes in their area and the flood of contributions from leaders proved an embarrassment for local leaders.
Potholes permanently fixed in Lancashire
Lancashire County Council Highways Department have taken to the task of repairing potholes with a vengeance. Already the council have increased their road repairing budget by over £2 million and have vowed to not just patch the surface but actually make a permanent fix. So far this year the council claim to have permanently fixed 10,000 holes near Blackburn, Lancashire and promise to fix another 10,000 before the winter is over.
Patched up in Devon
The situation in Devon could not be more different. Businesses across the county complain of losing thousands of pounds each year due to the poor conditions of the roads and motorists and pedestrians alike complain about potholes. At the end of the winter Devon’s roads were in an awful state and local councils came under great pressure to launch an initiative to repair the damage. Local authorities have indeed repaired potholes but in the main have concentrated on patching up; they claim they just do not have the money to effect permanent repairs.
Policy will come under the spotlight
Of course Devon along with other West Country counties has special problems. The influx of millions of tourists combined with the effects of coastal weather and erosion puts extra pressure on the roads, of which many are small country lanes. However, business leaders say they cannot afford to have poor quality roads because it prevents investment in the area. Already Devon has announced they will be cutting back on the number of roads they grit when severe weather conditions for the county are predicted and with a population that in many cases live in isolated spots the wisdom of their policy will be under close scrutiny these coming months.
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