Hull's £50m backlog of pothole repairs
THE man in charge of Hull's roads says he cannot defend the number of potholes – or reassure motorists that the situation will improve.
Councillor Martin Mancey has admitted there is a £50m backlog of repairs, leaving some city roads in the worst condition he has ever seen them in.
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DEFECTS: Councillor Martin Mancey says some city roads are in the worst condition he has ever seen
But he says the local authority's highways department would need another £5m a year to even begin to restore the roads to a condition he believes motorists have the right to expect.
Cllr Mancey, the portfolio holder for transport, said: "While I cannot defend the state of roads in this city, I cannot, unfortunately, give any assurances they will be restored to the condition motorists rightly deserve and expect."
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Cllr Mancey said the condition of the A63 and Castle Street, both the responsibility of the Highways Agency and not the council, is of particular concern, given their key location.
"These trunk roads, the entrance to Hull, are in the worst condition I can remember – and these are the direct responsibility of the Government," he said.
"The rest of the roads in this city that we, as a local authority, are responsible for are now in a worse condition than they were ten years ago.
"We are trying to address it, but we need the funds to do it."
Cllr Mancey said the public has "the right to expect more investment", but says his hands are tied given a lack of central Government funding.
Cllr Mancey said his highways department has been given £2.3m this year following the recent budget announcement.
He said: "Nationally, the typical annual shortfall is about £5.3m a year.
"So based on that, I would need at least another £5m a year to begin to address the backlog of repairs.
"In value terms, there have been varying figures given, but the backlog is at least £50m – and it's growing all the time."
During the 2012-13 financial year, the council completed repairs on 17km (10.5 miles) of road.
"It has been a year of enormous work, but we have 722km (448 miles) of roads in this city," said Cllr Mancey.
Despite recent complaints about potholes, Cllr Mancey said council figures show a reduction in the number of reported cases.
In 2010, 10,088 road defects were reported. In 2011, there were 7,467. Last year, just 5,642 defects were reported.
Cllr Mancey suggested this trend probably reflected a different approach being made to pothole repairs.
He said: "Rather than going out and repairing a single pothole, we are now looking at the area around it and resurfacing that, where it is required.
"Nationally, you see a lot of 'patchwork quilt' repairs. But it's the wrong approach.
"If a road surface is at the end of its life, you will get a rash of potholes."
Cllr Mancey said a recent Audit Commission report also challenged traditional methods of tackling potholes.
"It said reactive pothole repairs are not the best approach," he said. "Now, we are even going as far as pre-empting potholes."
Cllr Mancey urged tax- payers to campaign for fair funding from central Government.
He said: "While we are doing our best with what we have got, motorists need to be supporting organisations such as the AA in their campaigns for more investment in highway maintenance."
17 Comments
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by fozzuk
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 8:01AM
“Yes frost is destructive, but you only have to look around you no matter were you live in this city and you will see years of neglect,how many streets have you seen with moss and grass growing out of the footpath,drain tops missing and just left for sombody to break a leg and as for the name pot-hole...how on earth can you call a three by four chunk of road missing a pot hole...is it realy cheaper to pay out damages ? i dont think they care but im betting their insurers are busy.”
by xsharpstreet
Monday, March 11 2013, 10:09PM
“By AdPotentia
The answer to your question is obvious.
TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT!”
by xsharpstreet
Monday, March 11 2013, 10:00PM
“Backstar 07
All the people in all the world,and you have to blame the workers.I bet it,s their fault that the government had to rob the citizens of Hull of £150,000,000 in it's budget cuts because of the worker's laziness.What a star larker you are!”
by dlscaiwgh
Monday, March 11 2013, 9:20PM
“Old_Guy The footpaths need to be put in good order also!!!”
by dontwo
Monday, March 11 2013, 7:03PM
“Because its a lot cheaper in the long term to bodge the holes, and take the calculated risk that its cheaper to pay compensation in claims of damage and injuries.
Another "portfolio holder" just talking a good job who should fall on his sword.”
by beckster07
Monday, March 11 2013, 3:13PM
“i take it the back log is due to the speed the council workers if you can call them workers work? why not subby it out to companys that do it for a living giving them work and speeding the job up? or is that to simple...”
by bulldog60
Monday, March 11 2013, 2:53PM
“I ask myself this --- am I bothered why the potholes are not repaired---no, am I bothered who fixes them ---no , am I bothered how much it costs -- no , just get the bloody things fixed then we can all have a better life ps If cllr mancy is unable to manage this project , then get rid of him”
by PatrickNewman
Monday, March 11 2013, 2:45PM
“This is a national problem and even compared with Spain our roads are poor. Resurfacing and repairing roads is as near as you can get to good 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects the government prattle on about so what do they do - cut support.”
by JayOnly
Monday, March 11 2013, 2:20PM
“It's a pity we don't have the opportunity to tell this lot that their salary might no appear in the accounts at the end of the month.”
by bored_marker
Monday, March 11 2013, 2:14PM
“Genuine question, hope someone here can answer.
By acknowledging that the roads in Hull are in a shocking state but saying they don't have the funds to repair them, are HCC effectivley just covering their backs and stopping people from seeking compensation for car damages? It seems to me they're basically saying "the roads in Hull are rubbish, use them at your own risk".
In recent years I have shelled out close to £400 getting shock absobers and tyres replaced as a direct result of potholes down my own street. Reporting the potholes is one thing but if they reappear 2 weeks later the problem isn't going away fully and i'm still out fo pocket by 400 nicker!
I know there are rules about what they can spend their budget on so I'm usure whether capital funds can be used for this or whether the money has to come straight from the road fund tax or from our council tax.
I live just off Newland Ave and the state of the side streets from Cottingham Road right the way down to the Dukeries on Prince's Ave are beyond basic repair now. HCC now have a situation where the systematic repair of EVERY side street in HU5 (and I'm sure elsewhere in Hull too) is the only real option.
If I have assessed the situation correctly (please tell me if I am wrong as I would really like to know!) the combined council tax bill just from the Avenues alone would probably be enough to fix and repair the whole HU5 area.”