Birds 'bathing' in Kingskerswell potholes
POTHOLES on two Kingskerswell roads are so big that birds bathe in them when it has been raining, residents have claimed.
Nicki Hurley, who lives at Willake Road, said the craters in her street and nearby Vale Road are more than a metre wide and two hands deep.
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anger: Nicki Hurley, second right, and residents at one of the potholes Andy Styles TQAS20130311K-001_C
She is concerned her car will be damaged as she accesses her home.
"In the last year the holes have got worse," she said. "People stop on the road to post letters at the postbox, which doesn't help. We've been told the road is private, but whoever owns it needs to sort it. We've been in touch with our MP, Anne-Marie Morris, as it's getting ridiculous now.
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"When it's been raining, birds swim in the potholes."
A mobility shop is located at the front of the road. "It's ironic as this road doesn't make it easy for people in mobility scooters to get around," said Mrs Hurley.
Gary Marsh, owner of the Mobility Shop, said the holes affect trade.
"It's a bit of a farce really that we have the business next to these holes," he said.
"There are two big housing estates behind Vale Road and there's so much traffic I don't know why the council don't take it on."
War pensioner Derek Hughes, who also lives in Willake Road, said it would be a 'Godsend' if the problem was resolved.
He said: "In this day and age health and safety standards are paramount. It seems mad this road is not being repaired.
"I was in touch with the county council before Christmas, but nothing has been done."
A Devon County Council spokesman said records show Willake Road is a private road and not a public highway.
MP Mrs Morris said: "I am aware of the situation. Something does need to be done to address this and I am working with all concerned to resolve this matter as quickly as possible."
Comments
by bethneyhoe
Friday, March 22 2013, 10:30PM
“Looking at the photo I'd worry more about your neighbors than the state of the road. It looks like a cul de sac from a horror movie.”
by Jammiechap
Friday, March 22 2013, 9:40PM
“As a resident on the above road I find it incredulous that the owners of our road expect the government to maintain property that doesn't belong to them...
We need to be exceptionally careful that the local council do not carry out repairs on the behalf of us residents...!
As the legal definition states the highway authority is not responsible for maintaining an unadopted road although it can intervene under existing legislation to repair it.
Section 230 of the 1980 Act empowers the highway authority to order the frontagers to carry out repairs to a private road which are "needed to obviate danger to traffic". The legislation also allows the authority to carry out the work itself if the order is ignored and to recover the expenses incurred from the frontagers:
So however you look at it, we the residents are responsible to pay for repairs and as such I'd rather get it done without the council getting involved......!
This is another example of people expecting the others to pay for something that is not their remit..
It's embarrassing at best........!”
by jonjames
Friday, March 22 2013, 5:31PM
“"Nicki Hurley said the craters in her street " Great let her pay for it since she owns her own road.
Or maybe let the hippie on the left skin up.”
by bethneyhoe
Friday, March 22 2013, 9:40AM
“You can always get the middle classes to pose around a dirty puddle if it suits their cause. You can always rely on the Herald to pop up with a camera and invent a story, if it suits their cause.”
by howson
Friday, March 22 2013, 8:18AM
“if it is a private road then the people who live on it should pay for it to be repaired”