Gloucestershire roads ‘are the worst they’ve ever been’

Gloucestershire’s roads are “in the worst state they have ever been” according to opposition councillors at Shire Hall that they are calling for the issue to be treated as an emergency. County councillor Paul Hodgkinson^[1] (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) says his inbox is full of complaints from residents about the state of the roads in the Cotswolds.

And there are many lanes and roads which are really unsafe including A-roads, according to him. He is due to quiz highways chiefs next week over what their plan is to urgently address the issue.

“In my division it is not just lanes such as Leckhampton Hill which are full of potholes, some A-roads are also unsafe - such as the A429 between Northleach and Bourton^[2]. Drivers are swerving to avoid the very bad surfaces and this is dangerous for all concerned.

"The the road between Compton Abdale and Northleach is so bad that part of the road has collapsed," Cllr Paul Hodgkinson said.

“In one case, the road between Compton Abdale and Northleach^[4] is so bad that part of the road has collapsed. Yet still we wait for a firm timetable for repairs to be carried out.” He says it is time the council this issue as an emergency which the council focuses on as a priority.

“My inbox is full of messages from residents who are rightly fed up with the state of the roads. These highways are the worst they have ever been – some lanes are becoming totally unusable.

"The cost to drivers of damaged tyres and suspension is outrageous. That’s why this is now a ‘roads emergency” which the council must address urgently."

County highways teams fix high priority safety issues within one working day and other safety defects within 28 days, in line with national standards. And the council says they are getting on with their extensive road resurfacing programme, part of our additional £100 million investment into Gloucestershire’s roads.

A Gloucestershire County Council^[5] spokesperson said road safety is a priority for them and the authority has more than 30 teams out working on the network every day. Highways teams are working to improve the condition of the county’s roads and during April alone they filled almost 5,000 potholes, they said.

“Potholes can develop quickly on roads so it is not possible for councils to inspect every road or repair every pothole immediately. Every day we are inspecting roads and fixing any potholes that are a safety concern either the next working day for critical ones or within 28 days.

“We are committed to carrying out repairs as soon as possible that are reported by members of the public or found in routine safety inspections.”

• Anyone who spots an issue but hasn’t yet reported it, is asked to please use the council's ‘Report It’ service^[6].

References

1. ^{^} Paul Hodgkinson (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Bourton (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Go-ahead to build 70 homes on old MoD fuel depot in Gloucester amid fears it will be a 'rat run for burglars' (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Northleach (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
5. ^{^} Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
6. ^{^} is asked to please use the council's ‘Report It’ service (%20www.gloucestershire.gov.uk)