Local authority lies about fixing pot-holes

[MrHappyCyclist]

I'm lost for words!

Didn't commute on Thursday and Friday, but was pleased to get messages saying that a load of holes that I reported to FillThatHole last year have been reported as fixed by the local authority. Today's commute, however, revealed that not one of them has been touched!

Wha...!

 

[Recycler]

Not that it excuses them, but it may be that their contractor has said they had done the job.

 

[BlackPanther]

I've twice reported severe pot holes on a road near our house, once in my name, once in the Missus's. Nowt's been done. Waste of time, someone has to be injured before there's action.

 

[Jezston]

I'm lost for words!

Didn't commute on Thursday and Friday, but was pleased to get messages saying that a load of holes that I reported to FillThatHole last year have been reported as fixed by the local authority. Today's commute, however, revealed that not one of them has been touched!

Wha...!

Worth dropping an email to the council. As Recycler has said, they may have some strong words for their contractor if they've paid them to do a job they haven't.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Worth dropping an email to the council. As Recycler has said, they may have some strong words for their contractor if they've paid them to do a job they haven't.

Yes. I'll do that. I've updated the reports to "not fixed" and uploaded new pictures taken from today's commute, but, as you both say, it may be the contractor. The highway authority ought not to be paying a contractor without inspecting the work, though!

 

[fossyant]

Stockport council have stopped fixing holes that you can climb out of. No joke.

 

[Edwards80]

Stockport council have stopped fixing holes that you can climb out of. No joke.

There are cones popping up on my route in Stockport now that are placed over some nasty potholes. They stay there for a day until someone wears the cone as a hat and it ends up on top of a traffic light, pothole remains untouched. Altrincham Council fixed one I reported but not a more serious one 20 metres away. . . to be fair they haven't reported it as fixed at least!

 

[summerdays]

I had one that I reported that appeared as fixed - which had surprised me as I had cycled over it that day. Then on reading the details it said it was being fixed in 2 weeks time. It was - but I did think it was a bit of a cheat to presumably massage the figures of either how long it took to fix the average pot hole or how many were outstanding on that particular date.

 

[Edge705]

mention section 54 of the road traffic act they'll soon get their skates on. Have to say Ive reported a couple of pot holes on that site and nothings got done about it yet when I phone the council I just give them the same speil and they tend to address the issue in days

 

[slowmotion]

A year ago, some Authorities just re-defined what constituted a "pothole". Eg. increase the depth and width by a few centimetres. Problem solved. Genius!

 

[gaz]

mention section 54 of the road traffic act they'll soon get their skates on.

Really, why?

 

[judder]

I've not had a bad response from Stockport council. I always report them on there own council website and always include how dangerous the pot hole is, had to swerve to avoid putting myself and other road users in danger, a car swerved infront of me to avoid pot hole, a danger to road users, will cause a serious accident, etc etc .
Just about to report a couple more..

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

I had one that I reported that appeared as fixed - which had surprised me as I had cycled over it that day. Then on reading the details it said it was being fixed in 2 weeks time. It was - but I did think it was a bit of a cheat to presumably massage the figures of either how long it took to fix the average pot hole or how many were outstanding on that particular date.

In that case, the status should have been "In progress".

 

[subaqua]

Worth dropping an email to the council. As Recycler has said, they may have some strong words for their contractor if they've paid them to do a job they haven't.

yup. waltham forest used to be pretty good if you contacted them direct. we had the engineer out marking out the squares to cut them back to for proper repairs. contractor came along and just dolloped a bit of blacktop in. I took pics wrote a report on how it should have been done, and how what they had done was not a cost effective solution for council tax payers and sent it to the 3 councillors for the area and those councillors responsible for environment and highways . All the ones along the road got fixed properly 3 days later cut back with square edges and rubberised edge seal. proper job

 

[BentMikey]

No matter what system you use to report potholes, it'll only work if someone isn't chancing the system to gain themselves some sort of benefit. That's why "fixed" holes need checking, best done by yourself if you were the one reporting it originally.

I like fillthathole.org because it's an independently searchable database of road defects. Local authorities can't cover up the reports quite so easily, and you're doing a service to other cyclists and road users, since you may be substantiating any claims they may be entitled to.