Holme on Spalding Moor road repairs to be carried out during the summer

First the flooding then the severe winter, there is little wonder that some of our roads that were never designed for today's HGVs, are breaking up including the roads in and around Holme on Spalding Moor (HOSM). The resulting potholes have also inflicted damage to car wheels and tyres.

At the recent meeting of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) I asked the Leader a specific question on the current position on the repair of potholes in the Council's highway network and the role of the Highways Agency. He was able to confirm that an amount of some £1.1million had been received through a Government grant for road repairs, and to clarify the role of the Highways Agency who has
responsibility for repairs to the trunk routes,
which make up a small minority of roads throughout the East Riding.

I also asked that the ERYC look at the roads in and around HOSM, particularly High Street and Selby Road where the damage to the roads is not only causing problems to motorists, but also householders who suffer the banging, crashing and vibration caused when vehicles hit the damaged sections.

The ERYC has been battling the potholes with temporary repairs in order to maintain safety. But this is not just a matter of filling in potholes, some sections of road are so damaged they will have to be rebuilt.The cost of highway maintenance is funded through road tax, however the amount the past Labour Government paid back to Local Authorities was much less than they took in taxation, and not sufficient to maintain the roads.The cost to repair and rebuild our damaged roads will be huge and certainly much more than the derisory £1.1million we received from the Government, and it will take time, but East Riding of Yorkshire Conservative Councillors have made a pledge that we will do our utmost to ensure that this work is undertaken.

During the winter the Council was not waiting for the damage to be reported, a crack team was out every day filling potholes as they went around - I think this was very much a common sense, practical short-term solution, as we could not repair properly until the weather allowed, and the full extent to the damage was known.

I am pleased to confirm that the following works are included in the ERYC summer maintenance programme in Holme on Spalding Moor: A614 Mini Roundabout to Church Access - Structural Resurfacing of High Street through Village, and patching of the A163 West of Village (to be surface dressed in the year 2011-2012)Contracts are being prepared and it is envisaged that this work will be completed in the late summer if not before, depending on contracts/contractor work programmes.