Fury over state of road
Published 19 Aug 2012 12:00
4 Comments
A MUM-of-two has criticised highways bosses for overlooking a major route from Reading into West Berkshire while a multi million pound resurfacing scheme gets into full swing.
Motorists have been stuck in long tailbacks and buses services disrupted across the area this week as contractors get to work on Reading Borough Council's £850m road resurfacing programme.
But Heidi Groves, of Roebuck Rise, says her family faces a daily battle against deep potholes and uneven surfaces on the section of the A329 Oxford Road between Purley and Tilehurst Station, which has been left off the list of 20 black spots being targeted in the scheme.
She said: "The road is awful and I don't know why the council isn't doing anything about it.
"I use it every day and it's an accident waiting to happen as cars have to dodge the big potholes.
"My husband walks to Tilehurst Station to commute to London and he's always seeing cyclists and cars in near misses as they try avoid them - it's very dangerous.
"It's damaging for our cars too. I've already had to have both my front tyres replaced."
Mrs Groves, who contacted the Chronicle and council after reading our report on similar complaints in Tilehurst's crumbling Armour Road, added: "It's a major route in and out of Reading, and I can't see why it's not a priority for the scheme."
But in a letter to Mrs Groves, the council's assistant engineer, Richard Ponchaud, branded the road an "amber" priority, and explained: "Reading Borough Council carries out annual surveys of the roads within the borough to decide which roads should be included in the resurfacing programme.
"The survey ranks all the roads using a traffic light system, red for those in the poorest state, then amber for those less severe and green for those that are not requiring work.
"Based on the most recent survey, the section of road from the borough boundary to Tilehurst station is not as urgently in need of repair as others and this is why we are not resurfacing it this year."
He added: "I can assure you that the area will continue to be monitored as described."
Have your say by posting a comment below or emailing letters@readingchronicle.co.uk
This article appeared in Local Berkshire 16 Aug 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Summerrivers
Unregistered User
Aug 24, 10:57
Report comment"The road is awful and I don't know why the council isn't doing anything about it".
One word; Labour. Another; Tory. With one overseeing the other and both being useless and out for themselves only things will never change...
Recommend?
Yes 7
No 1
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Unhappy biker
Unregistered User
Aug 26, 09:30
Report commentThe people who decide which roads are in need of resurfacing should try and ride a motorcycle everyday in all weathers along these roads. Might change a few decisions.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 0
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Worried driver
Unregistered User
Nov 21, 21:45
Report commentI drive down there twice a week, the holes are large enough to avoid definatley!
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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Fedup Fred
Unregistered User
Nov 29, 19:39
Report commentObviously no one on the council uses this particular stretch of road.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 0
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