POT LUCK
Our homes shake when trucks hit ‘menace’ potholes – we fear for our safety but council is ‘dragging its feet’
The council blames a lack of funding from central government
RESIDENTS of a busy street have accused their local council of 'dragging its feet' over the "menace" of potholes.
Homeowners living in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, claim that their houses shake when lorries hit the craters, leaving them in fear for their safety.
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Locals dubbed the crisis a "nightmare", claiming that, if nothing is done, sinkholes could begin to develop.
The local council has pointed to its investment in road repair programmes and blamed a lack of funding from central government.
But local resident David Taylor, 60, claims that the situation on the ground is reaching breaking point.
He told : "Whenever a truck or van goes past, the house shakes.
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"It's getting worse and worse.
They patch things up and then the holes re-appear.
"The potholes are getting bigger and bigger.
"My wife is scared the house will collapse if there is structural damage or a sinkhole opens."
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David compared the vibrations of a lorry coming past to "earth tremors", claiming that his whole house shakes violently.
His concerns were shared by neighbour Mozammul Ahmed, who dubbed the potholes a "menace".
My city refuses to fix the crater-like potholes on my street - cars puncture their oil pans just trying to get through
The 45-year-old alleged that drivers have to swerve to avoid the damage to the roads, putting them and others in harms way.
He claimed that the problem has "never been as bad"; as it is now.
And fellow resident Jackie Taylor urged the local authority to shut down the road for full repairs.
She told : "I think, because they keep patching, and patching and patching, we’re going to end up in a sinkhole.
"I think the whole road needs to be shut and the council need to lift it up and see how deep it really is and properly surface it."
Potholes are a national problem
Cllr Alan Quinn
A spokesperson for Bury Council said: "We have some pothole repair work outstanding at this location which will be completed over the next month.
"In addition, we are investing £30 million on road repairs as part of our highway investment programme.
"In the coming year, 30 roads across the borough will be resurfaced and a further 75 will receive preventative treatment."
However, Labour Councillor Alan Quinn, the council's cabinet member for the environment, criticised the UK Government for what he sees as a lack of support for road maintenance.
He told Sun Motors: "Potholes and that condition of our roads, are one of the most common complaints for councillors, and in Bury we are no different.
"However, potholes are a national problem not just a Bury one.
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"This is down to one thing and one thing only.
"Lack of funding from the Conservative government for the last 14 years."
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