A York Council report, discussed yesterday behind closed doors, confirms what most people in the City had already guessed.
Poor weather over winter (and continuing) has taken a heavy toll on the City’s roads and footpaths.
The report says “The severe winter weather condition of recent years including large deposits of snow, extreme low temperatures and the hydraulic pressure of recent flooding has had a detrimental effect on the condition of the highways”.
The deterioration was made worse by the Labour Councils decision to reduced by 1/3 the amount spent on resurfacing during 2012.
This left many road surfaces more vulnerable to the effects of ice.
Highways resurfacing programme click to enlarge
With the cuts set to extend into 2013/14, it is perhaps not surprising that the cabinet member now responsible for the shambles (the third shift in responsibility in less than 2 years) has preferred to allocate the remaining budget at a private meeting.
The report also reveals that a “mobile working” IT system – which linked repair gangs to the company reception system – has failed to produce any efficiency savings. It is to be scrapped and replaced with a new one
The Council has also reduced the number of gangs who fill in potholes from 4 to 2, so repair times will increase.
54% of the money being spent repairing York’s roads is now being borrowed. This borrowing will have to be repaid, of course, leaving a legacy of debt for future generations.
A full list of planned road works can be seen by clicking here
Click on the ward list right to see how many – if any – roads or footpaths have been scheduled for repair in your area over the next year.
The Westfield. Dringhouses and Acomb wards have all fared badly in the allocations. Most funding continues to be concentrated in the City centre.