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Residents unhappy about pothole repairs

6:50pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in


WORKMEN have done such a patchy job repairing one road’s potholes that gaps have returned within a matter of weeks, according to residents.

Neighbours of Kingswood Avenue, in Park North, say the road – which has suffered from ‘countless holes’ over the past year – is becoming worse by the minute as it is a thoroughfare for the number 17 bus route.

Residents say that Swindon’s Commercial Services have worked on the road three times in a couple of months but have failed to do the work properly.

Nicola Connelly, 34, who has lived in the road for more than eight years, said the last time the workers showed up outside her home they spent 30 minutes working on numerous potholes before moving on.

She said: “The potholes on this street have been very bad for the past year, but they became worse after the snow melted. When the workmen did show-up it appeared they just threw the asphalt it in the hole and left.

“They have missed lots of holes, the section in front of us, with all the exposed holes, for example, was done two days ago.

“It appears they simply put it in, whacked it a few times and disappeared to the next location.

“I have saw them using a roller, but have not seen any sort of machinery or a steam roller used.”

Last month the Adver published a survey which said Swindon Council was ranked the 62nd worst in the country for fixing potholes.

In a list of 212 local authorities, it was claimed the council only filled in 26 per cent of the total number of potholes reported, although the council claimed it had repaired 65 per cent of them.

It was also reported that it would cost in excess of £1m to fix all of the road surfaces affected by snow and ice.

Yvette Bennett, 49, who has lived in the road for three years, said: “Over the last year the holes have become worse.

“I think it is largely due to both the weather and the fact that a bus travels this road every 10 minutes.

“If they are breaking apart this soon after repairs, I think the workmen should come back and do it again.”

The council was unavailable for comment.

Comments(14)

Bobfm says...
6:53pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Unfortunately it's not just one road or one area.

Who ever is doing this work certainly shouldn't get paid, oh could that be Swindon Contractors?

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who dat? says...
8:42pm Thu 11 Mar 10

"The council was unavailable for comment."

Presumably because his/her wifii was not working!!
And how much do they spend on communications ?
There is a very rotten core in local government which needs to be sorted.

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I Too says...
11:12pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Bob's right on this one.
Our road gets repairs, just about every year.
We're all told that we can't park in the street on particular days.
The workmen fill the holes to a poor quality. The previous years repairs will have already sunk, about an inch. The following year, they'll repair the holes that they did two years ago. Then the cycle repeats itself.
It would be more efficient to do a proper job in the first place

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woolster0 says...
11:15pm Thu 11 Mar 10

there was 5 swindon services vans round the corner from me, around 12 workmen, they were jet washing something, what a joke

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Still Claire says...
7:55am Fri 12 Mar 10

I think this is happening all over Swindon. We have had Swindon Contractors "fixing" the large pothole outside our house four times since the snow melted, the last time being Monday morning. And guess what? The hole was back this morning as I left for work! This hole is huge, I am not an expert on road coverings so dont know the correct terminolgy, but the tarmac has gone and you can see the white stuff below!

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Casual Observer says...
8:12am Fri 12 Mar 10

It's not just happening all over Swindon, it's happening all over the country and many other countries across Europe are a lot worse. You can't blame Swindon contractors for that... can you?

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silvergran says...
8:43am Fri 12 Mar 10

Yep, my road is just the same. It's a busy bus route so takes a lot of traffic. The holes were filled so badly that within a day the stones were all over the road and we were back to the craters. Since then it's become even worse than ever.

Whatever they are using to fill the holes is very substandard stuff!

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politicrat says...
9:42am Fri 12 Mar 10

The council and its budget are to provide the local community the services they deserve.
I still fail to understand why we are lending £0.5 million for a stupid Wifi scheme that nobody really wants whilst we have a plethora of pothholes making the lives of residents a nightmare, costing us time and money and possibly endangering peoples lives!
this tory council needs the boot........ELECTION
S NOW

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molly60 says...
10:07am Fri 12 Mar 10

I always thought the reason for councils letting pothles and craters appear and stay was not to upset some new arrivals to this country and make them feel at home.

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Kineasy says...
10:29am Fri 12 Mar 10

Casual Observer wrote:
It's not just happening all over Swindon, it's happening all over the country and many other countries across Europe are a lot worse. You can't blame Swindon contractors for that... can you?
Swindon Contractors are not responsible for the potholes, but they are responsible for the very poor, ineffective repairs. Repairs to twenty seven potholes, in a West Swindon cul de sac, rendered useless within twenty four hours. A very expensive mess.

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Bobfm says...
10:45am Fri 12 Mar 10

Kinseay well said, it's like saying a plumber is not to blame if after he fixes your boilers leak, you notice it still leaks. I', sure CO would happily pay again.

That is what is probably happening with these pot holes. Nice repeat business if you can get it.

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Casual Observer says...
1:10pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Yes Bob, of course I would.
 
I'm surprised you're at the keyboard today - thought you'd be looking for the Google camera in the sky. They're watching you y'know.

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Captain Sensible says...
4:23pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Repairs to the potholes in Highworth are all worn away again, not surprising when you see the way the way the contractors or should that be clowns repaired them. To think we pay these idiots out of our council tax.

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itsamess says...
8:10pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Garages are doing roaring business with all the damage to cars--sue the Council as they are covered by insurance--it is really a very pathetic effort to repair even our main roads. They are waiting until the new budget comes in on april 1st as they are out of funds with all these pie in the sky ideas and boosting private companies for wifi etc.

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