Web Forum: Holy pots!

Feb 2 2010 by Andrew Jackson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

POTHOLES are a major factor in causing axle and suspension failure which accounts for a third of mechanical issues on UK roads and costs British motorists an estimated £2.8bn every year.

Local councils have a duty to ensure roads are maintained, but if they don’t know about a pothole they can’t fill it in. So if you want to get it repaired, you have to report it.

despondent has had a costly meeting with one: “My car tripped up in a very deep pothole, actually in the town centre. Afterwards it kept trying to wander on the road, tyres and wheel were undamaged but the tracking was out.

“‘Did you kerb the offside wheel?’ asks the tyreman. No, just the opposite – it went down a hole as deep almost as a kerb is high. My bill for £28 should rightly be paid by the council.

“How many other motorists will do the same, possibly en route to the motorway.’’

TommyDNGR8 asked: “Have you reported this hole or just come on here to whine about it?

“I reported a ‘crater’ on Wednesday morning and it was repaired by Wednesday evening. Kirklees Council is doing what it can, but it needs some help.”

despondent warned the rest of us: “It isn’t just the discomfort of potholes, it’s also the impact on the car and pocket. By the way, until it is filled, it’s by the traffic lights at the Marsh bus stop overlooking the railway station where buses turn into the bus station, outside lane.”

idlejohn had been down that avenue: “Yes, I had the misfortune to find that one 14 days ago and it was duly reported – not sure about KMC needing help Tommy, sometimes they don’t seem to take any notice!

“This is not in some out of the way place but right in the town centre so should have had priority attention, especially bearing in mind the volume of traffic that uses that part of town.”

Dismayed_0f_Dalton advised that it’s easy to report potholes on: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/kmc-formsindex/reportit/locality.asp?type=road

despondent added with an air of apathy: “It would be a complete waste of time tackling the council as an individual, though I bet they will soon compensate the bus company after the square kerb stone fiasco.’’