Highways

The highways customer service bulletin is a fascinating document. There is nothing like a road full of holes to make an area look shabby. An excel spread sheet, it details all the reports of highways matters and actions proposed and taken. They also indicate some of the difficulties we have in getting action. 

Extracts from the latest one for instance, mostly filed by parishioners:

7 April

Email request for vehicle activated sign to be inspected as parish council states this is not working - comments as follows " The speed notification sign has not been working for months despite having reported the matter on a number of occasions.   Would you be kind enough to investigate please – if the speed device is not in your remit, please could you point me in the right direction. 

Inspector's notes

Passed to Engineer responsible for Vehicle Activated Signs

Current status

PASSED TO TRANSPORTATION TEAM FOR INVESTIGATION

29 May

Numerous potholes and very deep gullies along the side of the road, that will cause damage to cars and/or the driver to lose control, if they are forced into the gullies by oncoming traffic, due to the narrowness of the road. VERY HAZARDOUS!  Location of pothole: Numerous places along Astwood Road, Cranfield between it's junction with Bourne End Road, Cranfield and it's junction with Crawley Road, Cranfield.

Inspector's notes

we have repaired the worst, the remaining will be assessed.

Status

CLOSED - NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED

But is this just a patch up job? In which case after another winter of moisture and ice the pots will be breaking out all over again. You could lose yourself just in potholes alone. My own pet project at the moment is the entrance to Washingleys which looks like a moonscape. I will report on progress in future posts.