Pot Holing Anyone?

No we are not talking spelunking here - A new interactive service for reporting potholes on the roads has been launched by Essex County Council.

The online service allows users to pinpoint the exact location of the defect on an interactive map and also has a facility to upload photographs. You can report potholes, issues with water leaks/drainage defects with footpaths and other natters.

It asks for as much detail as possible to identify the location including road name and other identifiable landmarks such as a house number or nearby junction.

Users are then asked for details of the defect such as the size of the pothole/etc. and whether it is in the middle or at the edge of the road.

When the repair report is completed, a job number is given which allows users to follow up on the status of the repair at any time.

Site inspection
The council said it would schedule a site inspection as soon as possible after a report is made. A statement on its website reads: “From the location details you provide, we will check if the issue is already known to us.

“If it is not, we will assign the task to the officer responsible for that area who will visit the site to assess the situation. This will include deciding how urgent the repair work is and when it can be scheduled into the works programme.”

Given the poor condition of the roads in the parish, it will be a facility that will be of use to many local residents but the county council will have a long way to go to restore confidence in local road users with a recent survey showing more than 85% of Epping Forest residents were unhappy with the condition of roads in the area.

‘Ignoring problems’
Many, no doubt, will be sceptical on whether the new reporting system will make any difference, with the Parish Council Chairman John Glover having previously accused the county council of ignoring problems on smaller roads in the parish.

Gerard McEwen, the County Councillor representing Stanford Rivers, said he hoped the new system for reporting would lead to issues over potholes and other defects on the roads to being resolved more quickly.

The website address for reporting defects is:
https://secureweb1.essexcc.gov.uk/Highways/Report-a-highway-problem.aspx

Maybe we should find out just how effective this service is for ourselves - and give it a good run for the money.

County Council ‘Ignoring’ Poor State of Local Roads

Essex County Council is failing in its responsibility to keep local roads in a fit and safe condition, according to Parish Council Chairman John Glover.

Mr Glover accused the county council of ignoring potholes on the smaller roads for period of more than a year,despite them being marked at least twice for repair in 2011.

The criticism came as local survey figures revealed that only 15% of Epping Forest District Council residents were satisfied with the condition of the roads – the lowest in the entire county.

It is hoped the decision to appoint a new contractor, Ringway Jacobs, to repair the roads in the area will have a positive impact on the situation.

“Taking too long”

Mr Glover highlighted a large pothole in Toot Hill Road which has been causing particular problems for residents.

“Main roads are usually dealt with quite quickly, but smaller roads like Toot Hill Road can have potholes and not be looked at for a long time.

"I know people who have gone out with a bucket of concrete and tried to fill them in themselves because it was taking too long for Essex County Council to deal with.

"They left a cone on it to warn drivers, and when they took it away the bottom part stayed stuck in it, which is
how it is now."

Mr Glover said another issue affecting road safety locally was overgrown hedgerows He said: "There are places where hedgerows come out into the road. Places where cars should be able to pass are made too narrow. They also cover up signs and make it more dangerous for people walking in theroad.

“I have lived in Toot Hill for 29 years and when I first lived here the roadside shrubbery was cut back about twice per year, presumably by County. This service has completely stopped and in the last year part of Toot Hill Road was reduced to a single carriageway because of overgrowing bushes.

“We would like to bring pride to our roadsides and I am asking landowners to step up to the mark and get their hedges in neat order and ideally trimmed every winter,” he added.

Funding issues

Essex County Councillor Gerard McEwen, who represents the area, said it was important landowners took responsibility for their land.

"The Highways department don't cut hedges along rural lanes," Mr McEwen said. “It comes down to a matter of funds inthe end. Although it would be lovely if we could tackle every job, there isn't a bottomless pit of money and priorities have to be made."

New venue

County Council ‘Ignoring’ Poor State of Local Roads Under the Highways Act 1980, owners and
occupiers are required to:

* trim hedges and trees to ensure growth does not obscure the view of road signs.

* trim roadside hedges to maintain visibility for road users, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.

* trim any hedge that directly abuts a road, footway, cycleway or public right of way so that growth does not prevent the passage or affect the safety of the highway user, including cyclists and pedestrians.

* remove dead or decaying trees and other growth that may fall across the highway.

* remove branches and other growth that may prevent the passage of high sided vehicles or obstruct light from a public lamp (street light).

* ensure the highway (including the footway and drainage features) is left clear of debris from the cutting operations.