Roads ‘in worst state since 1976’
Former roads worker Edward Dyce isn't impressed with the potholes on Milton Crescent
A FORMER council roads worker claims good money is being thrown after bad on repairs to potholes around the city.
Edward Dyce says the road outside his house in Milton Crescent is in the worst condition he has ever seen it.
"I have lived here since 1976 and I have never seen the road in such a state," he told the Highland News. "We now have at least 20 buses a day passing along Milton Crescent and that doesn’t help."
A former lorry driver, Mr Dyce (70) also worked as a traffic warden and a porter at Raigmore Hospital.
"I was with the council roads department for 13 years at their harbour depot and I have plenty experience repairing roads.
"What happens now is they fill potholes with cold tar, beat it down and then the first car or bus that passes over churns it all up. They are throwing good money after bad and wasting taxpayers’ money.
"They need to cut it out properly, then fill it and seal it properly with hot tar.
"I’ve got new tyres on my car and it’s rattling every time I drive along this road. It must be causing damage to vehicles.
"Sometimes you have no option but to drive over these potholes. I complained to the council roads department at Diriebught Road but was told they had no money. They could save money by doing the repairs properly."
Another road blackspot in need of attention is at Lochalsh Road where one resident contacted the Highland News to complain. "The full length of the road is covered in potholes of considerable size, so much so that it’s like a slalom trying to get up the road without damaging your car," he said. "It desperately needs to be sorted out."
Another householder in the street said: "I agree that the repairs that are being done are not satisfactory.
"It’s not just Lochalsh Road, Dunabban Road is just as bad. You see the council roads lorry come out to fill the potholes. It’s amateurish what they are doing.
"The council is spending £60,000 on decorating a wall in the town centre (Crown Road). They would be better using the cash on proper repairs to the roads."
Conditions on the roads around the city have also come under fire from a city cyclist.
David Johnson said: "The potholes around the city at the minute are terrible. I’m having to swerve around them, sometimes quite suddenly, and it’s worrying when there’s traffic on your tail, especially during the rush hour.
"The road surface seems to just be crumbling and there are a few places where the holes have been filled in only to get washed out by a combination of the salt on the roads and the on-off freezing weather."
Inverness Central councillor Peter Corbett agreed that what the council is doing at the moment was no more than a sticking plaster job.
"Lochalsh Road is horrendous. I don’t think I’ve seen a worse road in the city," he stated.
"Hopefully though people will understand the present financial situation. Highland Council is getting £1.6 million from the Government for road repairs but that’s for the whole of the Highlands and it’s not nearly enough. They are trying to spread the butter as far as it will go.
"But the council still has an obligation to maintain the roads. The downside is cars are getting damaged, people will have accidents and there are bound to be claims coming in.
"We’re not over the winter yet. At the moment all we are doing is a sticking plaster job and Highland Council is not alone in this."
