HUNTING season has opened in Wokingham … not for animals, but for potholes.
Wet weather, strong winds and flooded roads plays havoc with tarmac and it means that holes in the road are opening across the borough.
And yes, where there’s a hole, the council will be looking into it.
Pictured is a pothole that appeared on Colemansmoor Lane in Woodley overnight on Friday, January 5, as a result of torrential rain.
The message to residents is to make use of reporting tools to ensure any new holes are on the council’s radar.
There is a section on the council’s website. The easiest way to report a pothole is to search for potholes and then click on ‘report potholes and road/footway damage’.
It says for urgent issues to call. This is considered to something that would present an imminent threat to life, a serious injury or serious damage to property. This wouldn’t usually cover a pothole.
For non-urgent pothole reporting, the council requests information on the location and a brief description. The council aims to respond within 28 days, and responses consider the hole’s depth, the surface area, the safety of road users, and the location and usage of the road.
Those who make reports will receive updates on their report, and others can go on and see what has already been reported and what works are planned.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, executive member for highways and active travel on Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Very wet and cold weather, such as we’ve seen lately, is one of the main causes of potholes.
“We maintain our roads throughout the year to prevent issues as much as possible and are above the national average for maintenance work done in the last year.
“Our network is in a better shape than the national average, despite chronic underfunding to councils for highway repairs. Currently it’s estimated that there is a road repair backlog of around £14 billion nationally.”
He continued: “I want to thank those that use our online reporting to tell us where there are issues with the roads, as this is the quickest way for us to pinpoint the location and nature of the issue and for our teams to get out and assess what works may need to be done and how quickly.
“You can visit the ‘roadworks and outdoor maintenance’ section of our website to find out lots of useful information, including how to report problems, what work is currently taking place or planned and the guidance we follow when making decisions about how we maintain our roads.”
