Potholes are a nuisance and when they appear are a blight our roads. They are dangerous for cyclists and can lead to costly damage for car drivers if not repaired.
As a local road user myself, I know how frustrating they can be, and based on the many emails I have received recently it is clear the latest spout of cold weather has once again led to a spike in cases. The heavy rain in December, followed by the recent freezing temperatures has led to road surfaces crumbling and increased cracks appearing.
Notable local cases include Pilgrims Way West in Otford and Bradbourne Road and Wickenden Road in Sevenoaks; and I understand and share concerns of residents.
Kent County Council – who have responsibilities for our roads - do excellent work to repair potholes as quickly as possible. During last year’s Pothole Blitz, KCC repaired over 26,000 potholes in response to over 14,000 fault reports – which included individual pothole repairs, as well as larger resurfacing works. Since December, there have been more than four times the number of reports to Kent County Council than the same period last year. I am assured that all available resources including term contractors and external contractors are working on the pothole situation and will get everything done as soon as they can.
That said however, Kent is home to 5,000 miles of roads, and this means we all have a role to play in reporting local issues.
So, my ask to you all is that if you are out and about – whether in a car, on a bike, or on foot – and spot a pothole which needs repair, please report it by visiting: https://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem. And, if you do not hear back from the council within 28 days, let my office know and we can check in on the repair schedule and if needed request certain incidents to be prioritised.
By working together, we can make sure our roads across Sevenoaks and Swanley are repaired, resilient and safe for all to use.
