Cheltenham road branded worst in county
HOMEOWNERS say potholes have made their street the worst in the county.
People in Upper Norwood Street are fed up with the dangerous state of the road and are calling for it to be resurfaced.
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They say the potholes are damaging their cars and pose a threat to cyclists.
Enid Smith-Wood, who lives in the street, has stopped cycling along it for fear of getting hurt.
The 82-year-old said: "It's like a cart track. It's so dangerous – it's unbelievable. A lot of people say it's the worst they have ever seen and it's the worst I have seen. It's an absolute disaster."
Residents say the street has been bad for years but has got worse in the aftermath of the cold snap.
Malcolm Hand has carried out a leaflet drop to 60 houses in the Leckhampton street, urging people to contact Gloucestershire Highways to call for action.
The 39-year-old, who has lived in the road for three-and-a-half-years, said: "It's been like it for years. The weather has made it worse but it was bad anyway. The road has sunk and there are too many holes to mention."
He said he raised the state of the road with Gloucestershire Highways last month and was told someone would be sent to look at it, but heard nothing.
He added: "I, and indeed many of the residents, would like our road to be nominated worst in the county."
Scott Mason, 36, who lives in the road, said: "My steering is completely knocked out because of the road. I think it's probably one of the worst in Cheltenham. It needs resurfacing – that's the only way you're going to cure it."
A Gloucestershire County Council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the condition of this road and understand residents concerns. The recent bad weather has had a severe impact on our roads and we are having to prioritise our resources."
OPINION, P8
40 Comments
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by standee, Up-a-Creek Street (just bouncing along)
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 12:29AM
“It's a disaster
My street's holier than thine
I blame the pavements”
by anon`, Cheltenham
Monday, March 08 2010, 10:04PM
“I wish the Echo would run a competition to find the worst road in Gloucestershire. Perhaps there could be one winner from each district which goes on to a final. The winner getting a resurface as first prize.”
by Richard, Cheltenham
Monday, March 08 2010, 9:25PM
“Further evidence of a country in serious financial decline. At some point we are going to have to accept the fact and pay for it. At the moment we live in cloud cuckoo land with the government borrowing more and more month by month and hinting at only minor cuts which will never mean that we make ends meet.
Self interested politiciancs will do nothing before the election and then, depending on your political persuasion, we will either see huge tax increases both direct and indirect, massive public service job and capital cuts, rising interest rates, unemployment and falling house prices. If the other lot get back it will be some of the above together with a visit to the IMF to bail us out and a devalued pound.
We are a very financially sick country but mark my word, we will have to pay!”
by LUCKYBOY, EVESHAM
Monday, March 08 2010, 9:12PM
“You should see what the roads are like in Priors Park in Tewkesbury.what with the foot high speed humps and potholes everywhere,virtually undrivable at over walking speed,lol.
Rumour has it,the council have deliberately let the roads get in this state to stop the good people of priors park getting out!!”
by anon, stroud
Monday, March 08 2010, 9:06PM
“roger, near glos. Your're not kidding, I live in Middleyard and have the misfortune to travel through King's Stanley twice a day to work, trying to weave my round them best I can. They did at least fill in the pothole that was as deep as bucket and couple of foot wide. Don't expect to find any difference if you are unlucky enough to travel through here again, they have covered themselves with the signs on the bit of road down to the Ryeford by-pass stating severely weather damaged surface. No doubt council speak for you'll be lucky to see any repair this year. Apart from that a lovely part of the world to live in”
by John, Glos City
Monday, March 08 2010, 5:28PM
“This morning I Took time to watch a ¿Pothole¿ being filled in Cheltenham Road Gloucester. I reflect on the way it was handled as a ¿Blop Job¿ No edge sealing then pour a can of water over the surface then ¿Bob Job¿ without more ado let heavy traffic compact the patch with heavy tyres. Almost Laughable.”
by Alfredo, Cheltenham
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:49PM
“Take the word "road" out of the headline and it is spot on!”
by Smudge, Churchdown
Monday, March 08 2010, 4:00PM
“Come to Churchdown (Morley Avenue and St Johns Avenue) it is like a third world country road, I've never seen anything like it, so many pot holes and then Highways come along to fill only a couple but leave the huge ones untouched! It is like dodge city, I'm surprised that there hasn't been some fatalities there!”
by CK, Gloucester
Monday, March 08 2010, 3:55PM
“I have just come back from visiting my Mum in London and our roads are positively amazing compared to where she lives.
We went out and driving up the road there was a large hole, about 2 ft across, a good foot deep with black rocks all around it, it was like a bomb crater. When I mentioned it she said that they were all like it on the side roads. We turned up the next street and there were loads of holes like it. You spend more time watching the road and pot holes than anything in front of you.
One road was so bad that she actually did a 3-point turn and went back the way she had come. I have never seen anything like it, if you saw it on the news as a road in Iraq you would still say it was bad.
Trust me, compared to this, our roads are positively smooth!!”
by Roger, near Glos
Monday, March 08 2010, 3:47PM
“I have just had the misfortune to drive along St. Georges Road/Church Street, into KIngs Stanley. It's so bad you cannot even drive rally style to avoid the long ruts & potholes....they last over half a mile & looks like not a single repair has been done since "the wrong kind of snow" fell!!
It is indeed the WORST public road you will ever drive on!”