leahortez86: Drivers lodge 4,600 complaints about potholes in just four weeks (MAP)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Drivers lodge 4,600 complaints about potholes in just four weeks (MAP)

DRIVERS have lodged 4,646 complaints about potholes on the region's roads in just four weeks.

It means motorists have made an average of 150 complaints-a-day to councils in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and South Cheshire in January.

That compares with just 882 calls to the three councils throughout December.

The increase in complaints show:

Staffordshire County Council received 2,281 calls about potholes in January, compared with 589 in December;

Stoke-on-Trent City Council received 1,139 reports of potholes in January, compared with 108 in December;

Cheshire East Council received 1,226 complaints in January, compared with 185 calls in December.

The huge increase in damaged road surfaces has been blamed on freezing temperatures during December.

Now councils are bracing themselves for more compensation claims from motorists whose vehicles have been damaged by uneven roads.

Figures obtained by The Sentinel show the three councils paid out �213,475.61 in compensation for injuries and vehicle damage caused by potholes and pavements between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

It is estimated nationally that the average payout for damage caused to vehicles by potholes is �1,300.

And it is calculated that it costs �60-per-square-metre to fill in a pothole.

Part of Endon Road, between Norton and Brown Edge, has attracted complaints with some potholes measuring up to 8ft long.

View Larger Map

A map of potholes reported to be a problem to councils using www.fixmystreet.com website

(Thanks to www.mytunstall.co.uk for link)

Motorist Meron Roberts, aged 36, of Endon Road, said: "The potholes are huge and you cannot avoid them. You cannot pull around them because you would have to drive on the other side of the road."

Michelle Coupe, aged 25, who works at The Beauty Suite, in Endon Road, said: "All our customers moan about the potholes. They ruin your wheels and I try to dodge them."

Motorists who drive for a living are worst affected by the problem.

Paul Wilkes, director at taxi firm ABC Supreme, said: "The potholes affect the suspension of our cars because of the size of the holes.

"I'd never knock a council for gritting because it's a thankless job but we have not had frost for a while and the potholes are still here.

"It seems to take a long time to get the holes filled in after the bad weather has gone. Our drivers moan about the state of the roads all the time."

First Bus commercial director Paul De Santis, below left, said: "Potholes affect buses because of the low bodywork.

"I appreciate there is lots more for a council to do but we are affected more than others because we have at least 100 buses running around the area."

Andrew Boyles, proprietor of APB Mechanical Services, in Leese Street, Stoke, said: "We are frequently getting cars coming in to the garage with damaged tyres, windscreens and suspension due to potholes."

"We all pay enough road tax without being in this position."

Where's the worst pothole in and around North Staffordshire?