Pothole repairs mystery is solved

After many months pondering the subject, I think I have at last become aware of the “management system” used by Nottinghamshire County Council’s roads and highways department in assessing which holes should be patched in the next round.

A surveyor (or other member of staff) rides up and down the street in his van without stopping or getting out and decides some repairs need to be carried out. I believe all the holes in the street are then given a number.

A meeting is called at headquarters where a bucket is provided full of numbered balls equal to the number of holes for which there is sufficient finance to cover. The chairman draws out a ball and that decides which hole will be repaired.

This carries on until all the balls are used and the holes identified. A plan is then drawn up.

Later, a member of staff goes along with a yellow marker spray and marks the holes to be patched and shortly after a contractor carries out the work. He has no discretion to repair any other holes because he will only be paid for those marked.

This can be the only explanation why some holes are repaired and other adjacent ones, which are much deeper, are left untouched.

I have brought the matter up with a county councillor who, in turn, contacted the manager of the department and the questions asked were unanswered and excuses made for other problems.

I fully understand there is limited finance available to carry out road repairs of this type but I always believed that if a job was worth doing, then it should be done properly.

Under no circumstances should bodging be done. It would be better to do nothing — except where it is a safety issue — and do the job properly when funds can be found.

I feel I have contacted and informed those responsible by following the proper procedure but have been faced with a blank wall. Perhaps this letter might bring about the desired response.