Telford & Wrekin Council has come under fire for the state of its road surfaces which residents and councillors say are “a disgrace.”
Critics say while money is being spent on upgrading cycle routes and roundabouts in the borough, not enough is being done to improve highway surfaces.
Borough and Wellington Town Councillor Gary Davies claims the council is failing to meet its own target of making all reported and dangerous potholes safe by the end of the next working day.
Potholes have been reported all over Telford but Councillor Davies says Wellington has a particular problem - one of the worst areas being in King Street.
Councillor Davies says potholes he reported as far back as March have still not been dealt with.
He said: “I think it’s a disgrace, the council claim they fix potholes within 24 hours but some of these I have reported go back as far as March and nothing has been done.
“It’s dangerous, cars swerve to avoid them and sooner or later they are going to come face to face with the oncoming traffic. Somebody will get hurt.”
Local resident, Enid Bailey added: “I think it’s terrible. I wouldn’t feel comfortable crossing by the one in King Street in case somebody swerved to avoid it.”
Telford & Wrekin Council say only potholes which it considers to be “dangerous” are repaired within 24 hours.
Councillor Martin Young, chairman of Ketley Parish Council said that he had also made numerous enquiries to borough traffic bosses about the state of Rock Road in Ketley where several speed humps are hidden by dense mud on the road, particularly near to the Pink Skips site.
Faded road markings also camouflage the humps causing unsuspecting motorists to drive over them at a dangerous speed, said Mr Young.
“We have made several enquiries to the borough council to say we think the speed humps are dangerous. Something should be done and if the council cannot clear up the roads then the speed humps shouldn’t be there,” he said.
Reviewed
Councillor Steve Bentley, cabinet member for the Environment said Telford & Wrekin Council reviewed its road safety measures every year. There had only been one “serious injury accident” on Rock Road in the last three years, he added.
“The council targets road safety measures at places where accident rates are highest. Those for Rock Road are similar to most other roads of this type in the borough and do not show that this road is any more dangerous than others. We review these each year to prioritise forthcoming safety schemes,” said Councillor Bentley.
He added: “While we have had no recent complaints from the public about safety on Rock Road, we have checked on the road safety scheme that was installed five years ago and will repaint around the speed cushions and review signage to make sure these are even more visible and help motorists to adjust their driving accordingly.”
Councillor Bentley said he was hopeful work would start on the road in eight weeks time.
