The Government and local authorities have been accused of doing "very little" to tackle the UK's failing roads after the public was urged to complain about potholes. Tomorrow (January 15) is National Pothole Day, and motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are being urged to report damage to the roads and pavements of their area - something that has been branded a "dangerous menace".
Mark Morrell, the UK's leading pothole campaigner, is urging the public to report potholes in their neighbourhood, According to Mr Morrell, a retired operations manager who was christened Mr Pothole after launching his campaign 10 years ago, poorly maintained roads are costing the country up to £10 billion a year.
He said: “I am sick to death of hearing from government and authorities saying repairing potholes is a priority then do very little to tackle the issue of our failing roads network. Filling in potholes is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Until there is a properly funded roads resurfacing programme put in place things will get worse.”
He claims that highways authorities need an extra £3 billion per year every year on top of current funding levels, adding: “Over ten years ago a report stated badly maintained roads were costing the economy £5 billion a year.
"So at today's prices probably double that to £10 billion. If Government invested an extra £3 billion a year every year on resurfacing roads it would save taxpayers money in long run."
His warning comes as drivers are being warned to expect a surge in potholes due to the large amount of rain that fell either side of December’s freezing temperatures. The RAC warned that the weather has created “the perfect recipe for potholes to start peppering the roads”.
The RAC responded to an average of 20 call-outs a day for faults such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels between October and December last year. That was up from 16 a day during the previous three months.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The wet weather we’ve had both before and after the coldest start to winter in 12 years in December is the perfect recipe for potholes to start peppering the roads.
“We fear that by the spring, drivers will be plagued by a plethora of potholes across the country’s roads which makes journeys uncomfortable and frustrating or, worse still, could lead to very expensive garage repair bills.
“It’s also important to remember that potholes are so much more than just an annoyance, they are a true road safety danger, especially for those on two wheels as they represent a huge risk to their personal safety.
“There are too many occasions where potholes have been poorly patched up by cash-strapped councils which then return all too quickly. It’s frankly absurd that, as a country, we seem unable to get on top of such an age-old problem when roads play such an important role in people’s everyday lives.”
Consumer champion Helen Dewdney, known as the Complaining Cow, says people affected by potholes must complain to their local authority, and urges anyone who has suffered loss or injury because of a pothole should "complain and claim".
She says a local authority's default position is to deny the claim but says it is possible to fight them successfully. "Write to the local authority and ask for details of their road repair programme," she said. "If the council hasn’t been properly maintaining a road then this will strengthen your case.
"Send photos/video evidence of the pothole. Describe the damage caused and, if relevant, include quotes for putting right the damage or copies of receipts and medical notes.
"You can also make a Freedom of Information request, asking for all complaints about the specific pothole. If they have had complaints but not acted, this will really help your case. Local authorities will usually fight pothole claims.
"Their strongest defence is that they already have a maintenance programme in place. However, don’t be put off in making a claim. You don’t need a solicitor, although many no-win-no-fee solicitors do take on pothole cases."
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