Wet weather increases potholes in Stratford district – but will £200m HS2 fund help out?
A holey trinity of potholes has come to attention of the Herald news desk recently.
In Tysoe Laura Lepeltier alerted her fellow residents of a particularly bad “tyre killer” outside the doctor’s surgery in Peacock Lane.
Meanwhile in Lower Quinton, the word ‘pothole’ was deemed too lame to properly describe the monstrous “sinkhole” that had erupted in Back Lane – and which Cllr Dominic Skinner swore to vanquish (well, report to the council).
Perhaps most devilishly of all was the return of ‘The Terminator’ to the Gated Road between Stretton-on-Fosse and Darlingscott. This blighter has slain many a hapless motorist’s tyres – but no sooner do the council fill in the hole, then it gradually emerges with each rainfall. You can almost hear Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous dread threat: “I’ll be back!” each time an attempt to repair it is made.
A spokesperson for Warwickshire County Council has promised it is on the case.
They said: "Due to the weather, it is normal to see a rise in the number of potholes at this time of year and, in anticipation of this, WCC has deployed additional gangs over the winter months who are working hard to help keep the roads safe.”
Meanwhile the council is set to receive £200m funding to upgrade roads and transport as part of the reallocation of HS2 money, but it was unclear if any of this would be used to scourge the county of the menace of potholes.
The portfolio holder for transport and planning, Cllr Jan Matecki, commented: “WCC welcomes this new funding allocation from central government, particularly the freedom and flexibility it provides to enable us to determine our own local transport priorities.
“We will be working hard over the coming months to develop a process for identifying and prioritising schemes that will generate the greatest benefits for residents across the county.
“The scale of the funding presents some exciting opportunities for Warwickshire, and we look forward to working with our residents, businesses, partners, and stakeholders across the county to deliver this.”
Residents are advised to report potholes to the county online via www.warwickshire.gov.uk/reportit.
A spokesperson said: “By reporting online, it ensures that the issue goes directly to the right team for action, and residents are now able to set up an online account where they can view and track all reports in one place, and receive updates on progress of issues they have logged."
