20 June 2013
Green Party Essex County Councillors are pressing County Hall highways chiefs to introduce more efficient ways of dealing with the county's potholes, and other road and pavement defects.
The Green councillors' 'Repair in Time Initiative' aims to save taxpayers money and reduce delays. Potholes are currently being reported many times over by residents, by parish councils, and by county councillors. Delays in fixing potholes are leading to complaints and FoI requests to ECC, wasting more time and resources. The Green argument is that more efficient ways of communicating, and dealing with these problems are possible and should be introduced without delay.
The road and pavement defects are widely seen as an all-round hazard - to cyclists and motor cyclists, pedestrians, drivers, and wheelchair users. They are also costing taxpayers in avoidable compensation claims when vehicles are damaged.
At ECC Cabinet on 18th June Councillor James Abbott, Leader of the Green Group, asked 3 questions about the poor delivery of the highway service, calling for the devolving of some services and better ways of working with districts and parishes as well as questioning why over £4 million had been underspent on delivering local highways improvement projects in 2012/13 (1).
Cllr. James Abbott (Witham Northern) said
"Despite the council administration's stated extra highway investment, road and pavement defects remain a major source of frustration and complaint for Essex residents, for parish councils, and local companies. It's simply not good enough.
The administration has stated this week that it intends to look at more contracting out of services under the Transformation agenda. Parts of Highways already have been contracted out to a private company and we would ask what quality control there is over that contract delivery and also what confidence does it give about possible future out-sourcing contracts.
Essex County Council's highways system simply isn't working. The worst potholes are supposed to be repaired quickly, but we have many examples where hasn't happened - despite multiple reporting of the defects, along with photographs.
Under the 'Repair in Time Initiative', we propose that when parish councils and local county members report specific defects, they should be automatically prioritised for early repair by County Highways. The parish councils and local members will need briefing on the criteria for an 'urgent defect', though it's usually obvious. Holes that reach 1.6 m in diameter and 15 cm deep, as one did in Silver End a few months ago, just needed fixing, not yet more inspections and reference numbers.
Our Green 'Repair in Time Initiative' also recommends that each district and borough has a dedicated highways officer who can build up local knowledge and trust will local communities to help programme faster repairs."
Essex County Councillor Michael Hoy (Rochford West) said
"Essex Highways are failing to repair dangerous potholes based on a flawed model.
On Lower Road Hullbridge there are a number of potholes at a very busy mini roundabout which haven't been repaired for months, despite a cyclist being taken to hospital after hitting one. To people using the road these obviously need urgent repair yet Essex Highways have classified them as non urgent category 2.
The London to Southend annual bike ride will go through Hullbridge next month and I am very worried that there will be further accidents on this roundabout."
Notes:
(1)
Cabinet agenda 18th June 2013 page 82 - of a £8.115 m underspend on Highways and Transportation, £4.501 million was underspent on the Local Highways Panels. These are panels made up of County and District Councillors in each district/borough, and in places parish councillors, who decide local highways improvements and safety schemes such as pedestrian crossings, new sections of pavements, weight restrictions, etc. Many evidenced, agreed and funded schemes from 2012/13 have not been delivered.
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