The problem with the potholes, and the direct reason there are so many, isn’t that the council don’t fix them…….but that they don’t fix them PROPERLY, so they don’t STAY fixed.
For example, in the cross in Melbourn there is one that’s been ‘fixed’ at least four times in the last couple of years, and every time it’s done in the same half a***d manner.
A proper fix, with sealed edges, would last for as many years as the road, not need doing again within the year.
Now obviously ‘doing it properly’ takes a bit longer and costs more, but sadly the contractors make more profit from doing a half-a***d job twice or three times and can get away with using substandard materials and/or techniques.
Contracts seem to be awarded on the basis of the cheapest quote, but this is an instance where today’s proper job will pay dividends in future savings, never mind improved quality of service.
Clearly the contractors will have to up their game a bit and maybe profiteer a bit less, but we don’t pay our council tax for their benefit, and it’s incumbent on the council to use our money efficiently.
Conclusion: berating the council do more hasty repairs will ultimately just make the situation worse and worse as time goes on, quality control and value for money is the problem here, and we should insist on improvements in both those areas.
