Resident ‘broke their ankle’ in pothole that wasn’t repaired

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Roads in a borough are so bad that a resident “broke their ankle” in a pothole that wasn’t repaired.

Chislehurst Matters councillor Alison Stammers said this week that Bromley was “beset” with numerous potholes and that stone debris is often thrown up on nearby pavements and roads due to passing traffic.

Cllr Stammers, in council documents, said: “In Albany Road, I understand such debris recently contributed to a resident breaking an ankle some two weeks after the debris was reported.”

The councillor asked Conservative councillor Nicholas Bennett, portfolio holder for transport, what the council would do to fill potholes and clear debris in the borough more routinely.

In his response, Cllr Bennett apologised for the state of roads in the borough.

Cllr Bennett attributed Bromley’s recent issues with potholes to severe weather this past winter. He said the council’s contractor, Riney, had a backlog of works due to be completed by the end of May.

Cllr Bennett said: “We have 13 teams dedicated to repairing potholes and some 70 or more are being dealt with every day and these are being tackled in a systematic way with the most serious potholes being dealt with first. I have agreed that the teams should continue throughout the summer months.”

The topic was also discussed at a Bromley council meeting on Monday.

Lib Dem Councillor Graeme Casey said at the meeting that the council’s work on repairing potholes “simply isn’t good enough”.

He also questioned whether 13 teams and 70 potholes being repaired a day was enough to tackle the issue.

Cllr Casey said at the meeting: “The trend is only going to increase in future years. I appreciate the hard work of our repair crews and I don’t envy their task, but all we are hearing is the frustration of our residents.

“A pothole is reported and eventually fixed, or at least reported as being fixed, but before too long the same hole has reappeared.”

Cllr Bennett responded at the meeting by saying that the council had previously tried to get more repair crews. He said that the repairs teams would continue to work through the summer after the backlog had been dealt with.

The portfolio holder said: “We are trying our best. We are very embarrassed by it, who wouldn’t be?

“None of us wants to see our roads in this state, but this weird combination of weather we’ve had this year has simply exacerbated it across the country. But we will get on top of it and I would just ask for some bearance [sic].”

Pictured top: Councillor Nicholas Bennett spoke about the issue at the Bromley council meeting (Picture: Bromley council)