The Highways Authority claim repeatedly that they repair holes and surfaces withing 24 hours if they are deemed to be dangerous. However they have very arbitrary definitions of what is dangerous. Ultimately it depends whether cases brought against them are successful.
These injuries were received through tripping on one of Ulverston's uneven pavements some time ago.
The cause of the problem a half inch depression in the pavement.
The same place taken from the side.
Located outside the Chinese Takeaway on New Market Street. This defect still exists. Photo taken today.
We normally don't expect these to exist so they catch us out. How do we decide something is dangerous? This clearly was to this lady. How long to put right - 30 mins? How long to rectify all similar defects? Several days or in the case of Market Street weeks?
The situation with Market Street is different in that the work of the replacement of the cobbles was not satisfactorily supervised to a high standard and the contractors not made to return to repair. Thus work that should have been done for free has now ended up as the County's financial responsibility.
It's not difficult to find even worse holes in road surfaces, this one on Stanley Street
What is the mechanism for getting these repaired?
Stuart Taylor from Capita tells me he comes to town from Kendal to check the roads and pavements every three months but is this enough and what does he miss? If he finds something that is dangerous he repairs it in 24hrs - but what how does he define dangerous? It was difficult to pin him down!
Photos like this emphasise to the County that in fact our roads and pavements are not safe. Please sendmore here to make this point.
Bear in mind that we can never be completely safe , but we like to feel that someone cares and is trying!
If you would like to make a claim you may wish to use this service recommended by Esther Rantzen
4 comments:
You can report road defects to the county council:
To report a fault online, or track a previously reported fault, please click on one of the links on the right hand side. (Link goes to http://www.cumbriahighways.co.uk/report_fault.php)
To report a fault by phone, call the Highways Hotline on 0845 609 6609.
To report a fault via email: contact@cumbriahighways.co.uk
However, the response is pitiful! It's taken over a YEAR for the 4-5" deep potholes on the Blakchall Road/Stramongate junction to be repaired properly. Even then, they've not bothered putting the road markings back properly.
Think you should get a propper job
Using the telephone can be daunting.
You may not be able to get through and be unable to connect no longer how long you wait.
When you get through you are asked to identify who you are and your address.
Which all discourages us to report.
Then if the result is nothing . . for a year then. Don't we usually just give up!
I have tried the above with this hole and will report back when a bit of asphalt arrives!
Meanwhile I'll try an email on a similar hole!
A loose sett/cobble in the Gill.
Will post reply
Using the telephone can be daunting?? hell yea scary things.
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