Council Reclassifies Pot-Holes to Cut Costs

Pitted roads affect motorists UK-wide
Pic: Channel4.com

Lambeth council in London recently announced that potholes under 40mm in depth will no longer be filled in, according to a report in The Telegraph.  This marks a significant shift, as previously holes as shallow as 25mm were classed as potholes requiring action. The new measure is designed to cut costs, and coincides with parliamentary research that suggested the cost of repairing every pothole on Britain’s roads has soared to over £13 billion.
 

Repair costs have been exacerbated by last winter’s record low temperatures which contributed to the overall decay of road surfaces around the UK.  The worst roads for potholes in the UK have been revealed, with Northumberland’s B6343 and Holme’s Fieldhead Lane in West Yorkshire achieving the dubious honour.
The Telegraph goes on to report that there are now estimated to be 10 potholes for every mile of road, which totals around 1.6 million across England.

Concern

 

This is an increasing concern to business drivers, who are likely to come across hundreds of potholes in their daily travel. If more councils follow Lambeth’s example in restricting repairs, fleet managers may see an increase in the amount of damage done to vehicles by these deeper holes.
 

LeasePlan UK’s CEO, David Brennan, has been vocal in advocating greater investment in Britain’s roads.   Following the budgetary allocation of an additional £100 million for pothole repair in March, he commented this was likely to be nothing more than a “drop in the ocean.”