Tories react to ‘pothole party’ jibe (From The Argus)
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Tories react to ‘pothole party’ jibe
6:30pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Bill Gardner
Potholes in Hereward Way, Lewes
A minster has blamed councillors for allowing pothole-ridden roads to crumble into a “shocking” state.
Lewes MP Norman Baker branded Conservative members on East Sussex County Council the “pothole party” and said they had done little to help motorists.
But one senior councillor said the transport minister’s comments were “a bit rich” and said the local authority was spending millions of pounds to repair the damage.
Thousands of new cracks and craters are being reported across East Sussex every week after freezing weather caused the roads to crack up.
Emergency repairs will bring many routes across the county to a near-standstill in the coming months.
Mr Baker, a Lib Dem member of the coalition government, said: “I’m disappointed by the state of the roads in East Sussex, which are shocking in many cases. I’m not convinced that the council have a sensible approach to dealing with this issue.
“I think the Tories are the pothole party. Often they appear to repair the holes, only for them to reappear only weeks later.
“There are standards for making sure the roads last and I am not sure these are being adhered to. Frankly I think motorists have a right to be concerned.”
East Sussex County Council has already had nearly 400 claims this year relating to highways from drivers with damaged cars.
Point scoring
However, Councillor Carl Maynard, lead member for transport, said Mr Baker’s comments were “completely inaccurate”.
He said: “This is typical Norman Baker – going out on a limb to score a political point.
“As transport minister, what Mr Baker could have done instead of moaning is to release the £1.4 million from Government earlier so we could have dealt with this more effectively over the winter.
“In fact, what we have done is to properly resurface roads rather than just a temporary fix.
'Underinvestment'
"We have already invested some £30 million in the last three years and we have got three times as many gangs responding to the problems.
“This will deal with years of underinvestment from the Lib Dem-run council during the 1990s.”
The comments came as a new report claimed councils needed as much as £10.5 billion to reinstate Britain’s “crumbling roads”.
Local authorities in England and Wales filled in more than two million potholes last year – up 29% on 2011, the Asphalt Industry Alliance reported
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Comments(8)
lordenglandofsussex
says...
7:36pm Fri 15 Mar 13
jc897
says...
8:17pm Fri 15 Mar 13
This damage is avoidable by attentive driving. These drivers force taxes and insurance policy prices up and it's not fair on those that do drive with due care and attention.
HJarrs
says...
8:37pm Fri 15 Mar 13
I am amazed at the blame being placed on the actions of the Liberal regime of the 90s, it is 13 years since the 90s what on earth have the Tory administration been doing! Have they been asleep at the wheel?
El Duderino
says...
11:40pm Fri 15 Mar 13
jc897 wrote:insurance policy prices are high because they are fixed to include the accident compensation element, in part fueled by no win no fee law companies - pot hole damage rarely causes sizable claims for insurance companies.
Not right that incompetent drivers blame the council for damage to their vehicles when they should slow down and pay more attention to where they are driving.
This damage is avoidable by attentive driving. These drivers force taxes and insurance policy prices up and it's not fair on those that do drive with due care and attention.
tenerifeisland
says...
12:25am Sat 16 Mar 13
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
7:27am Sat 16 Mar 13
HJarrs wrote:Blimey HJarrs....thanks so much for visiting the County. Was it politically motivated or did you simply lose your way whilst driving around London.
I was driving in East Sussex recently and was shocked by the state of many roads. No wonder there are so many claims.
I am amazed at the blame being placed on the actions of the Liberal regime of the 90s, it is 13 years since the 90s what on earth have the Tory administration been doing! Have they been asleep at the wheel?
Anyway, I do hope that you are now in a better and more informed position to comment on this site and also have empathy with those of us who actually live here.
upsidedowntuctuc
says...
11:23am Sat 16 Mar 13
1.5million on 20MPH scheme while the roads fall apart Will it take a death or serious injury to a Cyclist before they do something?
ourcoalition says...
7:15pm Fri 15 Mar 13
And times are really getting weird when I have some sympathy for a Tory - yes, the roads are a state, but when it's a choice between services for the elderly, the young and the most vulnerable, what comes first...
On the other hand, isn't it the so-called Coalition, that are cutting Council budgets by 28%, while ensuring the rich get richer.....
I really must be in a parallel Universe.....I knew I'd lose the plot one day......now, I'm off to lie down in a dark room.