"Bradford needs cash to pay for potholed roads" (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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"Bradford needs cash to pay for potholed roads"
7:00am Thursday 22nd November 2012 in News
By Chris Young, T&A Reporter
The state of Bradford’s roads will not improve unless Government funding increases, motorists have been warned.
The Local Government Association today described the nation’s pothole problem as having reached “crisis point,” and further budget cuts or a harsh winter could have “catastrophic” effects on the road network.
Bradford Council is struggling to keep on top of repairs with its highways budget and the situation will continue unless it receives more Government cash, according to the councillor in charge of roads.
As well as seeing its road maintenance budget cut by £1.3 million in the past year, from £7.75 million to £6.4 million, the authority had to pay out an average of £1.1 million a year in compensation to people who have tripped or fallen over the last three years.
In July, the Telegraph & Argus revealed that the Council faces a £30 million bill to bring road surfaces up to scratch and it would take six years to do so even if the cash was available.
Today, the LGA called for the Government to free up more money for road repairs.
Councillor Val Slater, the Council's executive member for transport, admitted the problem was getting worse.
She said: “Recent Government cuts in the Council’s budget has made it increasingly difficult to remedy the number of potholes across the district, and the situation is not going to get any better unless funding increases.
“However, Bradford maintains a comprehensive highway maintenance regime that aims to make the best of the resources we have available. A rolling programme of scheduled maintenance for the worst affected roads in the district is undertaken across the year.”
Coun Vanda Greenwood (Windhill and Wrose) said some roads in her ward had “major issues,” but she added: “Because of the backlog of works needed, the more damage that happens, the more it is going to cost to repair.”
Peter Box, chairman of the LGA’s economy and Transport Board, said: “Keeping roads safe is one of the most important jobs councils do, and over the past two years they have fixed almost four million potholes.
“They’ve also reduced the cost of filling a pothole by 25 per cent and are constantly looking for ways to make their dwindling funds go further.”
Comments(13)
angry bradfordian
says...
7:57am Thu 22 Nov 12
Cooperlane2 wrote:Couldn't agree more. The other week I walked up the road near the old Queensbury railway station between Clayton and West Scholes (don't know it's name)
Maybe reallocate money from traffic calming measures?
It's not wide enough for 2 cars yet they've still installed speed humps. In between the humps the roads covered in massive potholes that they say they can't afford to fill!
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:14am Thu 22 Nov 12
angry bradfordian wrote:Totally agree with the previous 2 comments.
Cooperlane2 wrote:Couldn't agree more. The other week I walked up the road near the old Queensbury railway station between Clayton and West Scholes (don't know it's name)
Maybe reallocate money from traffic calming measures?
It's not wide enough for 2 cars yet they've still installed speed humps. In between the humps the roads covered in massive potholes that they say they can't afford to fill!
We can't fix pot holes yet millions appear to be availible to build traffic calming measures.
Apollo
says...
8:39am Thu 22 Nov 12
angry bradfordian wrote:Now it has been repaired and the traffic calming humps have gone. Wonder what that cost for a road that it little more than a cut through from Yews Green to Clayton?
Cooperlane2 wrote: Maybe reallocate money from traffic calming measures?Couldn't agree more. The other week I walked up the road near the old Queensbury railway station between Clayton and West Scholes (don't know it's name) It's not wide enough for 2 cars yet they've still installed speed humps. In between the humps the roads covered in massive potholes that they say they can't afford to fill!
However, to Council is still wasting thousands of pounds (and taking months)re-building the walls at the top of Baldwin Lane. Why?
Apollo
says...
8:39am Thu 22 Nov 12
angry bradfordian
says...
8:42am Thu 22 Nov 12
Apollo wrote:I'd imagine their excuse would be that walls, humps and potholes come from different ring-fenced funds.
angry bradfordian wrote:Now it has been repaired and the traffic calming humps have gone. Wonder what that cost for a road that it little more than a cut through from Yews Green to Clayton?
Cooperlane2 wrote: Maybe reallocate money from traffic calming measures?Couldn't agree more. The other week I walked up the road near the old Queensbury railway station between Clayton and West Scholes (don't know it's name) It's not wide enough for 2 cars yet they've still installed speed humps. In between the humps the roads covered in massive potholes that they say they can't afford to fill!
However, to Council is still wasting thousands of pounds (and taking months)re-building the walls at the top of Baldwin Lane. Why?
They've got to spend some money on humps and cameras so the scruffy looking bloke from the safety department can get his face in the paper!
dellorri
says...
11:06am Thu 22 Nov 12
Well we know the further budget cuts are coming, with the chancellor braced to unleash a further £40 billion in cuts in public spending in the next budget, and a further £10 billion of the welfare budget. But why should we expect piddling little things like road repairs to be considered when the government has such important things to take care of, like the £8billion a year to the EU, and the £7.6 billion a year in foreign aid. Some of that (£28 million) going to India who have already told them they don't need it or want it. £28 million could repair a lot of roads I bet.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
11:28am Thu 22 Nov 12
dellorri wrote:I fully agree.
and further budget cuts or a harsh winter could have “catastrophic” effects on the road network. Well we know the further budget cuts are coming, with the chancellor braced to unleash a further £40 billion in cuts in public spending in the next budget, and a further £10 billion of the welfare budget. But why should we expect piddling little things like road repairs to be considered when the government has such important things to take care of, like the £8billion a year to the EU, and the £7.6 billion a year in foreign aid. Some of that (£28 million) going to India who have already told them they don't need it or want it. £28 million could repair a lot of roads I bet.
We need to get our house in order before sending billions overseas. Also we can't condemn the activities of those abroad whilst crime and disorder in our own country is sprialing out of control.
Lets look after the people who are paying the taxes rather than trying to be some kind of police nanny state to the rest of the world.
Joedavid
says...
2:01pm Thu 22 Nov 12
£30m the cost of the City Park!
thruth9211
says...
2:43pm Thu 22 Nov 12
Happy War bradford
thruth9211
says...
2:44pm Thu 22 Nov 12
Happy War bradford
watcher22
says...
3:24pm Thu 22 Nov 12
The workers had to lift setts and carefully relay them to get rid of a few tiny little puddles around the big one.
Shame the council couldn't plan for the roads and pavements which the vast majority of the council tax payers actually walk and drive on.
cockadoodledo
says...
6:06pm Thu 22 Nov 12
Cooperlane2 wrote:Good idea, the 20mph zones are a complete waste of money, whats the point of them if the Police are unable to enforce the speed limits due to cut backs!
Maybe reallocate money from traffic calming measures?
Cooperlane2 says...
7:44am Thu 22 Nov 12