Parish chiefs conduct pothole survey

 

 

COMMUNITY leaders in Pill and Easton-in-Gordano have carried out their own pothole survey in the villages after residents raised concerns about the poor state of the roads.

Pill and Easton-in-Gordano Parish Council set up a special working party to look at the issue of potholes and other road defects across the parish after villagers complained.

The area was spilt into 10 sections, with a team of eight councillors carrying out inspections of the main roads, side streets and estates.

The inspection team made special devices to measure the depth and width of each of the potholes.

The results are currently being collated and a report is due to be handed to North Somerset Council highways department in the next few weeks.

Carriageway potholes are classed as being deeper than 4cm and more than 30cm across while footway potholes must be deeper than 2cm and more than 60cm across.

As well as potholes, other defects in the roads and pavements have also been reported as part of the survey.

Councillor Bob Langton, who co-ordinated the survey, said: "The issue of potholes in the area was raised at a parish council meeting.

"We thought rather than just grumbling about it to North Somerset Council, it would a good idea to get a reasonably accurate picture of the condition of the roads and pavements and we decided to do a survey.

"There are some roads in the village that are worse than others but there are parts that are pretty poor such as St George's Hill, Heywood Terrace and Springfield Road."

North Somerset Council has spent £60,000 so far this year on repairing potholes and since the end of January, more than 600 holes - an average of 30 a day - across the district have been filled.

The authority is responsible for more than 800 miles of roads across the district and this year has spent £3.6 million on North Somerset's highways.

Potholes are caused when water runs into hairline cracks in the road surface and freezes, forcing the cracks further apart. 

Highway authorities across the country are facing similar problems after road surfaces were weakened by the cold weather before Christmas, with problems made worse when snow hit early in the New Year. 

The number of potholes being reported to North Somerset Council has also risen substantially following the cold weather.

Mr Langton added: "We are not moaning about the potholes as I am sure the problem in North Somerset is no worse than any other place in the country.

"As well as the larger potholes we have also highlighted other defects in the roads and pavements in the hope that these can be repaired as soon as possible to stop them becoming problems in the future."

The parish council has also recently agreed to stockpile its own grit supplies after bins were emptied by residents using the rock salt to treat their drives during the snow and ice.

The grit will be kept in a lock up and be used, when required, by the parish council to treat roads which are not on the main salting routes.