Drivers dodge ‘life threatening’ potholes on ‘virtually every road’
Complaints have flooded in after torrential rain caused potholes on ‘virtually every road’ in Crawley.
Six hundred potholes were reported to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) since Christmas Eve after one of the wettest years ever has accelerated the rate that potholes occur and grow.
On January 3 The Crawley Observer used its Facebook page to ask drivers where they had seen potholes and councillor Chris Oxlade (Lab, Ifield) shared the status on his page.
Nearly 70 responses followed within just four hours.
The Crossways in Three Bridges, Ewhurst Road in West Green and the Manor Royal were the front runners for areas of complaint.
Brooke Mineham, said: “A huge one by Ifield Parade. It has cracked my screen.
Daryl English said: “There are too many to mention. Several life threatening to motorcyclists.”
Tony Howick said: “Virtually every road! It would be easier to name the roads without potholes.”
Some drivers are frustrated that potholes have re-appeared.
Carolyn Murphy said: “Crossways in Three Bridges. They keep wasting time and money stuffing some loose shale in there that washes out immediately.
“Surely more effective to do it once properly than four times in as many weeks to no avail.”
Pieter Montyn, WSCC cabinet member for highways and transport, explained that the volume of potholes reported is making it impossible for these to be fixed as they occur.
He said: “We are dealing with the havoc caused by some of the worst wet weather for over a century and while we cannot get on top of this situation overnight, we ask drivers to please be patient and bear with us while we fix these problems.
“In the meantime, the onus is on road users to drive responsibly and take greater care when out on the roads.”
Balfour Beatty, WSCC’s contractor, deployed a ‘pothole patrol’ this week to target areas where the problems are worst.
A spokesperson for WSCC said the council is liable to compensate if it can be shown that the council has been negligent in how it keeps up with the frequency and quality of repairs.
The time taken repair potholes depends on their size.
Potholes greater than 100mm deep will be repaired within five working days. Potholes between 40mm and 100mm will be repaired within 28 days.
Any which are less than 40mm will not be repaired but will be reviewed at the next inspection.
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Weather for Crawley
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
