Pittville residents furious over refusal to fix "dangerous" potholes
ANGRY residents say huge potholes in their street are dangerous – with one disabled pensioner badly injuring her arm after slipping on loose tarmac.
Selkirk Gardens in Pittville is riddled with potholes, despite the people who live there repeatedly complaining to Gloucestershire Highways.
Diana Morgan, who is registered as being disabled due to crippling arthritis, said the state of the road was a danger to residents.
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The 79-year-old said: "I had a nasty fall because some gravel had got on the pavement and I slipped on it. I cut my forearm to pieces, and my daughter-in-law, who is a nurse, had to come and treat me.
"The potholes are terrible on the cars because they damage the suspension."
Mrs Morgan, who has a disabled parking bay outside her home, said driving to and from the space was a "spine-numbing experience" due to the potholes. "I'm worried about slipping over every time I go out to the car. It really is dangerous," she added.
In May last year Mrs Morgan received an email from the local highways manager, Chris Riley, saying there were "no plans to resurface this road at present".
This followed repeated complaints by Mrs Morgan and her neighbour Terry Higgs.
Mr Riley's email said: "While I have no doubt that the road would benefit from resurfacing we are not in a position where resources are unlimited and our programme of resurfacing is now set for this year.
"I will however arrange for the road to be inspected and any defects meeting the levels in our safety inspection policy to be repaired." Around nine months ago some Highways workmen filled in some of the potholes at the top of the road – the opposite end from Mrs Morgan's home.
However, Mr Higgs said the work was only carried out because the workmen had some spare tarmac left over from another job.
He said: "The workmen said they were just doing it because they had a bit of tarmac left over. They only filled in around 50 of the holes and didn't touch the ones outside our homes, and they are the worst ones."
He added: "I thing that, because this is a cul-de-sac, it's on the back burner for the council. But something really needs to be done about it."
Mr Riley said Highways has to "prioritise" which roads need work most urgently when deciding where to resurface.
He said: "We're aware of the condition of the road in Selkirk Gardens and have been in touch with local residents.
"We respond to all reports when there's a problem on the highway, and we're looking into what can be done in this case, however, we have to prioritise our budgets to make sure the most dangerous potholes are fixed first."
7 Comments
by tishwash
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 7:04PM
“I bet all the residents would love not being able to drive to/from their house for those two days.
It's a hard one, the roads to the racecourse are fairly main roads that thousands of people drive each day, your cul-de-sac isn't.”
by lu_leach
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 12:11PM
“This battle has been going on for 9 years with residents and local councillors being given different excuses. They have even been given different excuses in phone calls 5 minutes apart! It is because we are a cul-de-sac that we are being left, despite the fact that management at highways assured me that because of the high level of disabled and elderly residents we are now a priority. Just 2 days after the feeble attempt to fill 150 potholes in the first 50 metres of the road, the surface was reassessed and considered urgent. Wheelchair users cannot cross at the few dropped kerbs and residents and pets are continually sustaining injuries. We have been told by Gloucestershire highways that nothing will be done till all the Tarmac breaks away from the concrete it is laid on! Come on highways, I know that because of the concrete you are at no risk of being sued for all the injuries and damage to vehicles, but removing the Tarmac and mending the seams in the concrete is a 2 day job. Of course, if our road was on the main route to the racecourse it would be perfect by race week
Lu Leach community Representitive for Selkirk Gardens and Selkirk Close”
by localben
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 12:02AM
“@Lecorche: Thank god I wasn't the only one to notice that. Far more entertaining than the story.”
by tishwash
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:18PM
“what a load of tosh, gravel caused a lady to fall, well be careful where you walk, ice will cause that too, also as for the road causing 'spine numming experience' it's not africa! it's not that bad and I'm sure the car's suspension will cope at slow speed if you're 'parking'”
by Lecorche
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 12:00PM
“I had to smile when I saw the picture of Mr. Higgs standing in a symbol of the Highways Department's erectile dysfunction.”
by Alfredo_
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 8:17AM
“Glos HIghways is a disgrace when it comes to road repairs. It was such a shame that Stan backed them after the bad weather we had a few years ago. The repairs they do carry out are shoddy and temporary, and are done without warranty by workers who are lazy and non-committal.”
by agent006
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 7:33AM
“He added: "I thing [sic] that, because this is a cul-de-sac, it's on the back burner for the council."
Spot on. As it should be.”