LETTERS
From Andy Redhead, Shanklin:
THE state of the roads on the Island is appalling — I don’t think anyone would argue with that.
So PFI funding for the roads will be welcome (in whatever format that finally takes). However, we won’t see any much-needed funding until 2013. Three years away at the earliest.
That is three years of further wear and tear, combined with winter damage to the already deteriorating road surfaces.
The PFI funding and renewal programme is expected to take some 25 years, so it will be a long process of renewing the roads as identified by the experts in order of priority.
Why are the current road repairs by various contractors apparently being carried out to such a standard that within a few days of a hole being plugged, vehicular traffic is already pulling the new tarmac out of the hole in question.
Has the IW Council instructed the various contractors to cut back on quality for a more temporary repair? Or do the council not have the capability to inspect a completed repair to ensure quality control?
Some of these repairs will have to last a long time before the PFI money arrives and work commences. Clearly something is not right.
I am an overner, I chose to live on this beautiful Island and invest into where I want to remain. Before moving here I spent 20 years as a police advanced motorcyclist on the mainland, I live in Luccombe and still motorcycle daily.
I am thinking or replacing my road bike for something more suited to offroad use — such is the state of the roads.
The current state of the roads will inevitably lead to more taxpayers’ money being spent on private claims for damage to motor vehicle suspension and wheels etc, than is actually being spent repeatedly plugging holes.
How long before a fatal accident investigation report states to the coroner the condition or poor state of the road surface was the primary cause of an accident?
See how quickly the council runs out of money when that happens and civil litigation commences.
The tax-paying residents of the Island (born here or otherwise) deserve better than this.
From Phil Capon, St Lawrence:
Thousand holes: Having returned to the Island after an absence of many years I was amazed to discover it had a new sport — potholing!
I’m not talking about those holes that intrepid cavers enter on a quest for middle earth but the holes that normal, long-suffering motorists try to avoid when journeying on the Island’s roads.
It’s quite a sport to master and can be just as dangerous, as my wife and I discovered on our way home from Ryde to St Lawrence the other night.
In a brief moment of lapsed concentration, I think my wife was telling me to avoid potholes, I turned and was about to tell her if I wanted a "satnag" I’d buy one, when there was a tremendous bang.
The car then veered from side to side, I braked and skidded to an abrupt halt.
"I told you to look out for potholes", my wife said accusingly in an alarmed and shaky voice.
"Of course you did darling!", I replied as I got out to examine the car. Fortunately the only damage done seemed to be to my ego.
The following day I spoke to a very nice man at the council who told me the hole would be reported. "How long would it be from 'reported’ to 'sorted’?" I asked. He could not give me an answer.
Apparently there are more than 1,000 potholes on the island waiting to be filled.
Now I know the Island has suffered one of the worst winters in years which in turn has wreaked havoc on the roads but well maintained is not only a matter of priority but also a matter of life and death.
How long before it’s not just someone’s ego damaged?
So come on IW Council. Get those holes filled before someone gets hurt or the Island sinks into the sea without a trace.