Byron Road, Locking. Road suface in need of repair.

Bad weather caused potholes - council

Report by Alex Evans, Reporter Saturday, July 28, 2012
10:00 AM

BAD weather is to blame for the potholes in North Somerset’s roads, according to the council, as it prepares to make widespread repairs across the district.

Last week, the Mercury published a number of gripes from readers who branded the area’s roads ‘awful’ and ‘terrible’ because of the number of craters in their surface.

North Somerset Council has revealed it has a team working across the area patching potholes, with two gangs of workmen travelling the roads.

A winter patch-up programme is being brought forward, and from August the authority says it hopes to repair 85,000 square feet of road.

A statement released by the council said: “Normally at this time of year the number of potholes reduces dramatically, but the wettest April and June on record have meant that temporary emergency repairs to road surfaces have not lasted as long as they would in drier conditions.

“The winter freeze, followed by a wetter than usual spring and early summer, have combined to cause problems on a number of our roads.

“However, despite the financial challenge the council faces and the need to save over £47million by 2015, it is doing what it can to maintain the roads in North Somerset.”

■ To report damage to road surfaces in North Somerset go to www.n-somerset.gov.uk/connect or call 01934 888802.

4 comments

I agree with all the other statements, and would like to add another thought , maybe if the council didn't take the cheapest tender for road repairs, and instead invested in the best people to do the job, surely it would save money in the long run.

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jab

Saturday, July 28, 2012
The weather to blame? That's it pass the buck again. If the utilities who dig up the roads had to reinstate it to its original form, I.e. resurface that stretch properly, then the roads would not be it this bad a state.

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Neptune

Saturday, July 28, 2012
So how long should a temporary repair last then?

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DA

Saturday, July 28, 2012
Maybe the bad weather has been to blame, but if the roads were better looked after instead of ''patching up'' areas then I am sure the roads wouldn't be in the state they are now..A road gets resurfaced and within a month it is being dug up again for water , electricity or gas...Why cant all that be done before the resurfacing takes place???? The council need to get priorities right instead of wasting funds on silly things!!!!!

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Marjon

Saturday, July 28, 2012