North Northants Council responds to letter concerning the ‘unacceptable’ state of roads in Raunds
After a letter was sent to North Northants Council (NNC) regarding potholes in Raunds, the executive member for highways has responded.
The letter was specifically sent to NNC’s executive member for highways, Cllr Chris McGiffen, who has since responded, noting the ‘significant rise’ in potholes in the county.
Cllr Chris McGiffen said: “I can confirm I have received the letter from Raunds Town Council and will respond in due course directly to the Town Clerk.
“As a council, we are aware of the local feelings regarding the condition of roads across North Northamptonshire and are working as hard as possible to bring roads up to standard.
“Recently we have seen a significant rise in pothole related activity due to a period of freezing temperatures followed by sustained wet weather. This weather accelerates road surface deterioration and has contributed to the higher number of defects appearing across the network.
“We continue to work closely with local communities and town and parish councils to address their concerns.”
Raunds Town Council penned a letter to NNC, who are responsible for road repairs, saying many in the town had incurred ‘significant and unplanned costs’ as a direct result of potholes scattered around the town, most notably in Brick Kiln Road, in the north of the town.
In that letter, the town council clerk, Steve Tucker, sought ‘measurable commitments’ and that ‘the cycle of reactive, short-lived repair will be addressed decisively.’
Raunds Town Council also outlines that residents who have pursued compensation claims after striking a pothole have had their claims rejected, creating an ‘erosion’ of public trust in the unitary council.
If you notice a pothole which could cause safety issues in your area, report it here.