Hundreds of potholes have been reported in one area of Merseyside with residents saying the roads are "a mess".
Freedom of Information data obtained by the ECHO show that in 2021 there were 596 records of potholes reported to Knowsley Council, all of which were 'actionable under the Policy for Highway Safety Inspections' were repaired. This was up from 2020 when 471 records of potholes were reported.
Knowsley Council holds responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the adopted roads and pavements within the borough, including potholes. Potholes can occur as road surfaces age or become damaged as deterioration is accelerated by water ingress, heavy traffic, utility trenched and extreme temperatures.
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The FOI data reveals the top five roads in Knowsley that had the most reports of potholes. These include Dragon Lane in Prescot, Charnwood Road in Huyton, Manchester Road in Prescot, East Lancashire Road, and Liverpool Road.
We took a visit around some of the "worst streets" in Knowsley, as well as other routes on the radar this year to see what motorists thought about the issue. One person said: "The roads are ridiculous, it's everywhere though not just here."
Another added: "It's an inconvenience. We pay road tax and for what, to feel like we are on the bumper cars? For them to ruin the car that I then have to pay for, it's silly. All potholes should be a priority and the job should be done right. You often find one will be filled in but a few days later will be crumbling apart again. They are getting increasingly worse."
A third told the ECHO : "It's not just the potholes, the roads in general are an issue. Appreciate there are housing developments and whatnot but surely the general upkeep of a road should be a priority? You drive down a road and more often than not it's not a smooth ride."
We asked residents where they thought was particularly bad for potholes, with some saying Dinas Lane in Huyton, and others saying Prescot's Cross Lane and Whiston's Cedar Road and Lunt Avenue. Residents in Halewood also said the roads "are a mess", adding that "it's not just the roads, it's the pathways." One motorist said: "It's like a game of whack-a-mole these days."
According to the website, Knowsley Council considers a pothole to be 40mm or more deep, if it is less than this it is not considered to be a pothole. Roads in Knowsley are "regularly inspected to ensure they remain in safe condition", including weekly checks for motorways and monthly checks for footways in busy areas of towns.
The Freedom of Information data also revealed that in 2021 the council cost of repairing potholes amounted to £579,105.71. However, the ECHO understands this covers the cost of all potholes repaired in this period, including those identified during highway safety inspections, not just reported potholes.
Potholes can cause significant damage to a vehicle. Last year, Knowsley Council confirmed there had been total payments made of £683.71 in settlements on pothole claims for 2021.
According to the council website, category one potholes, representing an immediate hazard which could endanger road users, will be repaired within two hours, whereas category two potholes will be repaired within 24-hours. For category three potholes, they will be repaired within 14-days and category four potholes will be repaired within 28-days.
More information about potholes in Knowsley can be found on the website. You can report a pothole by clicking here or call 0800 0232334.
A Knowsley Council spokesperson said: “Maintaining effective highways is a key council priority and for the last financial year, all reports of confirmed potholes were repaired. Our teams also proactively survey our roads to identify risk areas and take appropriate action. If residents do see any potholes, please report them here.”
Have you experienced an issue with potholes? Let us know in the comments!
