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potholes - Thea (9th Mar 2013 - 08:50:48) Yesterday evening my husband and I were driving down Highfield Lane in wet weather (towards Liphook) when we went through a flooded pothole and burst not one but both the tyres on the left side of our car. The pothole was full of water in a large puddle and neither of us saw it. It is going to cost several hundred pounds to replace the tyres but I suppose we were lucky we weren\'t killed. A little over a month ago, I was driving out of Rogate on the main road when exactly the same thing happened - this time a massive pot hole which burst one tyre and significantly damaged another so both had to be replaced. My point is that these potholes are dangerous and are costing me a fortune. I know that two different councils are managing these areas but it seems that the same lackadaisical standards apply. Anyone got any suggestions about how this problem can be addressed?

Re: potholes - Paul Robinson (9th Mar 2013 - 09:51:30) Having dealt with one or two of these reports in the Parish Office I can assure you that both East Hants District Council and West Sussex do respond positively to reports of dangerous potholes. Please will you call in at the Parish Office and give us a the precise locations and we will report it to the responsible body and get it repaired. For the record I was informed by West Sussex that potholes of less than one and a half inches deep do not warrant attention but anything bigger are attended to within seven working days. Paul Robinson

Re: potholes - clint (9th Mar 2013 - 10:06:58) Its a real problem in this area I know. I ride my bike round the lanes and you have to take your life in your hands with the state of the roads. You could disappear down some of the potholes never to be seen again. There is a website you can go to (I know you shouldn't have to!) but if you visit http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/ which is an organistaion linked to the CTC, it makes it it's business to pester the local authorities about potholes. I've used it in the past and it does seem to work. I reported some holes where I live in The Avenue last spring and within a few days there were some council blokes looking in them scratching their heads, shortly followed by a gang with some tarmac.

Re: potholes - Steve (9th Mar 2013 - 10:17:04) My son hit the same pot hole about 2 weeks ago on Highfield Lane causing suspension and wheel damage. He has photographed the hole and damage to his car, downloaded a claim form from the County Council with estimate & now invoice for the repair. Sent it in, now sit back and wait. Will advise of the outcome, if it happens.

Re: potholes - Darren (9th Mar 2013 - 10:46:54) There's a simple way to report any defect on any road. Go to either: Here for Hampshire roads Here for Surrey roads Here for West Sussex roads And follow the on-line info, it's very simple to do. If you don't report the problem how do they know it exists? I've reported many potholes etc. and they all get reacted to (some quicker than others depending on location and severity). Unfortunately with the recent cold weather and budget cuts potholes are prolific but be proactive and report them and they will get looked into............haha! (my attempt at a Saturday morning joke)

Re: potholes - Kat (9th Mar 2013 - 10:57:41) My friends got in touch with the County Council and put in a claim as Steve has done. I dont think East Hampshire District Council are responsible for road repairs. Paul Robinson is a local councillor so he will know best, especially as he has been dealing with these things. I am sure he wouldnt give out inaccurate information.

Re: potholes - thea (9th Mar 2013 - 11:56:43) Thanks for all your advice. I have just been back to look at the pothole - right opposite a farm track on the right hand side as you approach Highfield School. It is massive. At least 10 inches deep and flooded with water with high vertical sides, and it is unavoidable - in the direct way of traffic. Both the rims of my tyres have been bent completely out of shape and will need to be replaced along with the tyres. I am going to go out now and photograph it with a ruler to show the depth. Personally, I think this pothole is such a hazard that it should be sorted immediately. It could cost a life but it is certainly going to cost the council a fortune in claims. Thea

Re: potholes - thea (9th Mar 2013 - 14:37:45) I am very glad to report that between 10am and 12 noon today, someone has filled the monster pot hole with tarmac. It doesn't look like a very neat job but it certainly helps. Dare I hope that this website had something to do with the hasty repair? Anyway, when I returned with my measuring tape and camera, it had been filled so no pictures. Just out of interest, did anyone else see this pothole or fall into it?

Re: potholes - Susie (9th Mar 2013 - 20:33:22) There is a phone app called Fix my street which I use. Potholes I have reported have been looked at and filled within 24 hours but most people just complain to their friends and never report potholes. From what I know about claiming the council are only liable if the pothole has already been reported to them. I have noticed how much better Liphook roads have been looking re potholes compared to Haslemere.

Re: potholes - Richard (9th Mar 2013 - 21:00:08) I use FixMyStreet and it has one added bonus. If someone has previously reported the hole and the local council have not fixed it, there will be a record of the report and compensation should be easier to get for any damage caused. After all, they can not say "No one reported it" if you have the evidence. If everyone reports potholes, then councils will have to sort out the issue, or keep paying compensation for damage.

Re: potholes - Rob (9th Mar 2013 - 21:56:56) A big problem is the bodge 'repair' that seems so common. Whacking a spade full of blacktop in the hole, then reversing the truck over it (which I have witnessed) is NOT a repair. It's a bodge that will last 5 minutes and achieves nothing except wasting money and improving the councils stats on road 'repairs'. Just take a look on The Avenue. All the tarmac that was put in the, albeit small, potholes has just fallen or been washed out and spread all over the road. Waste of time. Really they need cutting back to sound tarmac, filling, compressing, then sealing. Take a look at scars in the road from the laying or repair of utilities. It's very obvious which have been done properly and which haven't. The ones that haven't start crumbling at the edges pretty quickly. Just like the bodged potholes.

Re: potholes - Editor (10th Mar 2013 - 07:56:10) Just be thankful we live in Hampshire.... "Drive in Scotland and the North of England and you are three times as likely to damage your car thanks to poorly maintained roads, according to Warranty Direct. " "Meanwhile, the best places to avoid pothole perils are mostly in the South, with Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire all among the safest regions." From AOL cars ... cars.aol.co.uk/... Alan

Re: potholes - DML (10th Mar 2013 - 17:58:55) PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT The SCC Highways Committee met recently to discuss how to deal with an enormous pothole on the Old Portsmouth Road . One member suggested stationing an ambulance beside the pothole to rush any injured motorists to hospital as quickly as possible. A second member said injured motorists might die on the way to hospital, so it would be better to build a hospital beside the pothole. The Committee finally agreed that it would be far too expensive to build a hospital beside the pothole and concluded that the right course of action would be to fill in the pothole - and locate a new one beside the Royal Surrey Hospital . We are pleased to announce that the pothole was filled in and a new pothole ordered. Unfortunately the lorry delivering the new pothole hit a bump on the Old Portsmouth Road , and the pothole fell off into the road. There will be a delay to further fund this project, so in the meantime traffic lights have been installed to prevent traffic from hitting the new pothole. SCC ‘ Working for You’

Re: potholes - Rob (10th Mar 2013 - 19:22:52) "Meanwhile, the best places to avoid pothole perils are mostly in the South, with Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire all among the safest regions." Hmmmm, best of a bad bunch I'd say. "One in 10 motorists in the Angus region of Scotland will get an unwanted garage bill for suspension repairs this year, compared with just 3.2% in East Sussex, where you are least likely to suffer pothole damage." Still not good though, is it.

Re: potholes - Bodgit and scarpa (11th Mar 2013 - 15:47:19) Did anybody notice the dodgy repair to the zebra crossing in the square today ? A 5 min job - the tarmac was packed down by stamping on it and now its 1" higher that the rest of the road a tripping hazard on a crossing very safe indeed. Well it did say highwaymen on the van or was that highway maintenance?? not sure now should have gone to specsavers ...... Oh well at least they can blame the snow if it doesn't last long!!!

Re: potholes - tony (11th Mar 2013 - 19:20:10) The way they repair potholes, if they repair them at all, is a bit like getting my gran to replaster your house. Sure, there would be a lot of plaster but not a smooth finish in sight. I think they must employ Mr Topsy Turvy.

Re: potholes - Jay W (12th Mar 2013 - 14:04:25) Thanks Bodgit and Scarpa for making me laugh out loud. Now back to work with a smile on my face!

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