Councillors Warn of Widespread Road Collapse As Huge Potholes Open Up In Canterbury (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Councillors Warn of Widespread Road Collapse As Huge Potholes Open Up In Canterbury

February 9, 2009 5:33 PM

Pot hole in Guildford Road, Canterbury Liberal Democrat County Councillor Martin Vye and City Councillor Alex Perkins are urging residents to be wary of collapsing roads - but are also urging people to sue Kent County Council Highways for the price of damaged tyres.

Following years of under-funding by Kent County Council local roads have now reached a state collapse. Due to inadequate and incompetent funding arrangements put in place by the Conservative administration at KCC roads have been left to deteriorate to such an extent that motorists are now at risk.

"Constant patching where proper reinstatement was needed had weakened road surfaces and now we are at crisis-point in much of the district," Said Lib Dem County Councillor Martin Vye. "The patches just make the situation worse and in Wincheap we even have areas where they have patched the patches two or three times. We estimate that in this district alone it would take tens of £millions to get our roads back up to an acceptable standard and I am calling on the County to put that sort of funding in place."

" Lib Dem City council leader Alex Perkins said "Many of these pot-holes are simply unavoidable and their depth and size mean that tyres will be damaged. We are urging people to take legal action wherever possible against Kent County Council if their vehicles have been damaged by the terrible state of the carriageways locally. Perhaps if they will not listen to local people KCC will listen to their insurers!