Betsy
Well-Known Member
'Road wardens' to fill in pot holes as cash-strapped Devon County Council looks to save £3.4m
A cash-strapped Devon County Council has sparked anger by revealing plans to slash its highways maintenance budget by asking residents to fill in potholes themselves.
Devon County Council wants to trim its workforce by a fifth and train volunteer 'road wardens' to do the work instead.
The part-timers would be responsible for filling in some of the estimated 11,500 dents and divots plaguing the country's streets.
The volunteer workforce would also help to clean signs and trim lawns and verges along the county's 8,000 miles of roads.
Devon boasts the largest highway network in the UK and costs an estimated £1bn each year to maintain.
The council has already slashed its budget by £18.5 million since 2010 but needs to save a further £3.4million in line with the government's austerity cuts.
Officials reckon they can shave off £260,000 by reducing their neighbourhood highway team by a fifth.
They want to save a further £430,000 by cutting the number of lengthsmen - responsible for keeping roads neat and tidy.
The proposals are part of a package subject to a nine-week public consultation period looking at various ways to save money.
But opponents say this year's stormy weather and hot Indian summer has left Devon's roads in more need of repair than ever before.
Earlier this year a contender for the largest pothole in the UK emerged near Crediton - measuring a whopping 6ft wide.
Other pot-hole related incidents include a traditional brass marching band cancelling its procession in Hartland and three cyclists were badly hurt when they pedalled over craters in Exeter.
Hugh Bladon, South West spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers, said it was ridiculous to expect residents to fill in their own holes.
He said: "You've got to be joking - I'm sorry but what are we paying our taxes for? That's plainly absurd.
"We're paying nearly £60bn in motoring taxes and if that's not enough for them to do their job then maybe we shouldn't pay them at all. It's bloody ridiculous.
"Councils all over the country are spending too much money painting lines all over the place rather than filling in the holes in the road.
"Potholes are exceedingly dangerous for people on two wheels, especially.
Mr Pothole, real-name Mark Morrell, a campaigner for better roads in Britain, said: "It's an interesting concept, but it makes you wonder what problems Devon County Council have.
"I put in a freedom of information request and found there to be a backlog of £766m worth of road repairs in Devon, I wouldn't be surprised if it was nearer £1bn now.
"A few people filling in a few potholes is a quick fix, and how effective it would be is a worry."
Cllr, Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways, defended the proposal, saying the county faces having its budget trimmed by 60 percent by 2016.
He said: "Reduced budgets mean every service area of the council is affected, including highways.
"The government is reducing revenue funding year on year and we are facing massive pressure on our budgets.
"This presents a big challenge for the service and will mean a huge change from what has been previously delivered.
"There will be some very difficult decisions that need to be made. We are looking at a number of options but we want to receive feedback and are keen to hear ideas."
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk...Devon-County/story-23089269-detail/story.html
A cash-strapped Devon County Council has sparked anger by revealing plans to slash its highways maintenance budget by asking residents to fill in potholes themselves.
Devon County Council wants to trim its workforce by a fifth and train volunteer 'road wardens' to do the work instead.
The part-timers would be responsible for filling in some of the estimated 11,500 dents and divots plaguing the country's streets.
The volunteer workforce would also help to clean signs and trim lawns and verges along the county's 8,000 miles of roads.
Devon boasts the largest highway network in the UK and costs an estimated £1bn each year to maintain.
The council has already slashed its budget by £18.5 million since 2010 but needs to save a further £3.4million in line with the government's austerity cuts.
Officials reckon they can shave off £260,000 by reducing their neighbourhood highway team by a fifth.
They want to save a further £430,000 by cutting the number of lengthsmen - responsible for keeping roads neat and tidy.
The proposals are part of a package subject to a nine-week public consultation period looking at various ways to save money.
But opponents say this year's stormy weather and hot Indian summer has left Devon's roads in more need of repair than ever before.
Earlier this year a contender for the largest pothole in the UK emerged near Crediton - measuring a whopping 6ft wide.
Other pot-hole related incidents include a traditional brass marching band cancelling its procession in Hartland and three cyclists were badly hurt when they pedalled over craters in Exeter.
Hugh Bladon, South West spokesman for the Alliance of British Drivers, said it was ridiculous to expect residents to fill in their own holes.
He said: "You've got to be joking - I'm sorry but what are we paying our taxes for? That's plainly absurd.
"We're paying nearly £60bn in motoring taxes and if that's not enough for them to do their job then maybe we shouldn't pay them at all. It's bloody ridiculous.
"Councils all over the country are spending too much money painting lines all over the place rather than filling in the holes in the road.
"Potholes are exceedingly dangerous for people on two wheels, especially.
Mr Pothole, real-name Mark Morrell, a campaigner for better roads in Britain, said: "It's an interesting concept, but it makes you wonder what problems Devon County Council have.
"I put in a freedom of information request and found there to be a backlog of £766m worth of road repairs in Devon, I wouldn't be surprised if it was nearer £1bn now.
"A few people filling in a few potholes is a quick fix, and how effective it would be is a worry."
Cllr, Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highways, defended the proposal, saying the county faces having its budget trimmed by 60 percent by 2016.
He said: "Reduced budgets mean every service area of the council is affected, including highways.
"The government is reducing revenue funding year on year and we are facing massive pressure on our budgets.
"This presents a big challenge for the service and will mean a huge change from what has been previously delivered.
"There will be some very difficult decisions that need to be made. We are looking at a number of options but we want to receive feedback and are keen to hear ideas."
http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk...Devon-County/story-23089269-detail/story.html
