Our say

A call to arms…

29th May 2009

More power to the residents of North Curry in Somerset. Rather than just sitting back and accepting the poor state of their local roads, this slightly militant band have acted, and produced a 12-page dossier detailing dozens of defects, complete with pictures.

The purpose? To shame Somerset County Council into fixing the dire condition of the roads.

It’s yet another case of Central Government’s ‘patch-and-mend’ mentality – Councillor David Patten, who led his troops in this latest example of outraged residents, tells Potholes.co.uk that the council’s workmen simply spray a weak binder on the road and cover the ‘repair’ with grit, hoping that cars will grind it in.

One two-mile stretch of road, he says, was resurfaced three weeks ago and 50% of the ‘repair’ has already gone!

North Curry’s direct action is what we need to combat this nonsense, and Potholes.co.uk invites the motoring residents of the UK to rise up in a similar fashion to join the campaign for better, safer roads.

Our own spokesman, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “This kind of public pressure is the only way things will change. North Curry villagers have adopted a novel approach but one we applaud. We hope it acts an inspiration for other residents in towns, cities and villagers to do the same.

“I think we’re all fed up of seeing pathetically-repaired holes as part of the patch and mend policy.”