Residents blast council for potholes on street that ‘looks like a bomb has gone off’

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A neighbourhood has been described as having “destroyed” roads where people drive like “maniacs”, in a borough with streets that “look like a bomb has gone off” on them.

Bexley borough currently has more than 500 reports of damaged roads and potholes on FixMyStreet.

The topic of road maintenance was discussed at a Places Overview and Scrutiny meeting for Bexley Council on June 27.

Conservative councillor Cheryl Bacon asked for repairs to the borough’s roads to be looked at as a priority, fearing the state of the highways will “only get worse”.

Cllr Bacon said at the meeting: “We want Bexley to be a nice place to live in, and part of that is having roads that don’t look like a bomb has gone off down the street.”

One of the worst streets in the borough for road defects is Hook Lane in Welling, which currently has 17 reports of potholes or damaged stretches of road on FixMyStreet.

Richard Davies, 78, has lived on Hook Lane for 25 years. He said potholes are “everywhere” in the area and drivers often go through red lights, but that such problems are to be expected when living on a main road.

Mr Davies said: “Nothing gets done. It’s no good complaining. It is [frustrating] in my mind because you’re paying road tax… People drive up and down here like maniacs.”

Tao Han, 77, said he has lived on Hook Lane for 53 years. The resident said that local roads such as Hook Lane and Yorkland Avenue used to be well maintained, but he has noticed a decline recently and has found the issue “annoying”.

Mr Han said: “[It’s been a problem for] a few years now. They come along and they repair them. And within a couple of weeks, they’re gone again.”

Bexley Conservative Councillor Nigel Betts represents the Falconwood and Welling ward and said it is investing £15million in improvements to local roads and pavements.

A Bexley Council spokesman said: “The council has a programme of resurfacing each year. The roads with the worst problems of potholes, rutting, structural failures, etc are prioritised.

“However, there are a number of large projects planned by utility companies to do major trenching works across the borough.

“This means a number of resurfacing schemes have been deferred to save the new material being dug up so soon after the works are complete.”

“Our Highway Technicians and Inspectors continue to arrange treatment for those potholes that meet the thresholds and monitor those that don’t in case they deteriorate. Where necessary, an immediate repair is carried out, but this is often using temporary material in order to keep the road open, pending a more permanent repair when the road can be closed safely.”

Pictured top: Tao Han, 77, said he has lived on Hook Lane for 53 years (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)