TODAY is National Pothole Day and Warrington’s roads are meant to be better than many following an ongoing £40 million investment in resurfacing work across the borough.
A brief look outside our office door would suggest otherwise, although I concede Old Road is not a major road, although it does generate a lot of traffic throughout the day.
Last year one of our correspondents James Gordon suffered two punctures in a short space of time, once near Bank Quay Station and once near the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
I recently had to have a new spring fitted to my vehicle’s suspension with my local garage citing potholes as the likely cause.
National Pothole Day is not something to celebrate, but the issues around our town do need raising.
Last year the Cantilever Bridge was resurfaced and already potholes are starting to reappear. While this bridge is the responsibility of Peel Ports, the highway closures put in place while the works are carried out, bring traffic delays and disuption.
The job clearly wasn’t done properly and the council should flag these issues with those responsible.
While Warrington appears to be doing better than some other areas during these times of austerity, there are still clearly some problems.
Warrington Borough Council has provided an online facility https://www.warrington.gov.uk/potholes – so let’s make sure we use it! At the end of the day a bad pothole could lead to a serious accident or a fatality.
A Borough Council spokesperson said: “Warrington Borough Council recognises the importance of its highway network and is currently investing £40 Million in resurfacing work across the borough.
“This work cannot address all the roads in Warrington and potholes are recognised as a national problem. The recent continued cold weather has resulted in an increase in potholes which is being addressed by the Highways Maintenance Team.
“Information regarding how to report potholes can be found on the council website.”
At the launch of the highway investment plan in 2016 Cllr Hans Mundry, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transportation and Public Realm, said: “I am delighted to see such a major investment into the road network. At 1137Km and a value of £745M, the highway is one of the most valuable assets we have.
“According to recent National Highways and Transport (NHT) surveys, a high number of customers reported that road condition is the highest concern and most in need of improvement. Warrington Borough Council is committed to its customers and business growth. As such, this investment strategy will encompass the Authorities long term goals and objectives.
If you are aware of any potholes which require attention you can report them using the following link
https://www.warrington.gov.uk/potholes
James Gordon – a victim of potholes twice last year
The potholes in Old Road today
