Roads

SocketRocket

SocketRocket

Ryder Cup Winner
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Sep 12, 2011
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Why are our roads such a disgrace now? They are like you would expect to find in a third world country. The surface doesn't get relaid these days they either patch it up or spray on tar and spread loose gravel that lasts about six months. You also have to dodge around deep pot holes that have a good chance of damaging your cars suspension, Gawd knows what that's like if you went into one on a bike or motorcycle.
 
Up here in Lancaster they're building a new bypass. In the meantime they've rerouted all the heavy traffic down roads that weren't designed for the sheer weight of it. It's mostly freight off to Heysham for Dublin. The roads are collapsing left right and centre. Potholes are unavoidable. Absolutely shocking. Literally.
 
I don't think you have ever driven on a road in a developing country if you think our roads are similar to theirs.
 
SocketRocket said:
Why are our roads such a disgrace now? They are like you would expect to find in a third world country. The surface doesn't get relaid these days they either patch it up or spray on tar and spread loose gravel that lasts about six months. You also have to dodge around deep pot holes that have a good chance of damaging your cars suspension, Gawd knows what that's like if you went into one on a bike or motorcycle.
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absolutely agree, they are shocking. poor state of affairs
woody69 said:
I don't think you have ever driven on a road in a developing country if you think our roads are similar to theirs.
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I beg to differ, the roads in some 3rd world countries, Wales & Scotland for example are superior in some cases
 
Councils have no money. It isn't because it's all been wasted, it's because cut after cut means that there isn't enough for decent public services. Do you fund care for the elderly or resurface a load of roads? Do you patch up the roads on the cheap, and keep a few more places in day care for handicapped children? Do you close a library so you can keep a bus service going?

Meanwhile we can all rest easy because Council Tax isn't going up and central government is saving money that used to be spent on these services. Things will get worse before they get better.....but it's OK, we're all in this together.
 
Councils are corrupt, the whole structure they operate under is designed for endless discussion whilst nothing gets done efficiently, they are funded by the taxpayer so there's no real accountability - no one is checking for value for money, every project goes miles over budget. Thankfully they have had the sense to reduce employees and tender work out to the private sector but they then award contracts to the smallest chepaest outfit who then take 10 months to do what a big operator could do in 3, there's a huge knock on and cost for all the businesses affected by these drawn out job times but councils just cant see it. Instead of encouraging business with incentives to fill the reams of empty shops in towns they charge exorbitant business rates that are wholly unaffordable for small businesses and then compound that by deterring motorists(customers) with ridiculous parking restrictions and charging in desperation to raise revenue - so backward. Councillors are on the gravy train, an I'm alright Jack culture, always have been, expenses left right and centre, love the sound of their own voice, they're wannabee politicians with political affiliations so will argue for arguing sake, that's what they do. Talking shops that meet and meet and never make a good decision, free lunches and dinners all the way. The whole housing crisis and unaffordability in the UK can be largely blamed on council planning departments systems not keeping up. Edinburgh's trams - case in point! Wheelie bins and boxes everywhere, road signage at £10k per sign, 3,2,1 signs coming into every village from both sides for 30mph zones and some claim they dont waste any money...unbelievable! Councils structures should be completely re-organised and criteria for being employed by a council changed and joe public should NOT be paying more council tax until value for money can de proven......in my view:angry: Councils are a shambles.
 
maxfli65 said:
Councils are a shambles.
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An acquaintance of mine recently bought an entertainment venue off the council for £1. When run by the council it was losing money hand over fist due to the rules they impose on their operations. They have to contract cleaning to an approved service partner. But as they're approved they can charge what they like. The same for catering for events. They can't pay for acts to appear at the venue because you pay up front and then recoup the cost through ticket sales. That is gambling with public money and therefore banned.
My acquaintance purchased it for £1 as it was a loss making concern. He already owns a catering business in the area, so if catering is needed they just travel across town to the venue. He can get cleaners at a decent cost. He can gamble as much as he likes with his own money. He laid out a small fortune doing the place up because he has certain standards, but he's already made a small fortune in the space of a year or so.

So yes - I agree - councils tend to be shambolic.
 
Fyldewhite said:
Councils have no money. It isn't because it's all been wasted, it's because cut after cut means that there isn't enough for decent public services. Do you fund care for the elderly or resurface a load of roads? Do you patch up the roads on the cheap, and keep a few more places in day care for handicapped children? Do you close a library so you can keep a bus service going?

Meanwhile we can all rest easy because Council Tax isn't going up and central government is saving money that used to be spent on these services. Things will get worse before they get better.....but it's OK, we're all in this together.
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Or house and give benefits to a few more immigrants/refugees.........just saying <tin hat>
 
Over the last year a large number of roads, mainly residential, have been stripped and resurfaced, making our estates, almost, a pleasure to drive down. Some of these roads didn't need doing, some that did need doing weren't....
And the main roads around town are now falling apart but it's OK coz they're building an inner relief road that is going through a flood plain where they're building thousands of houses, commercial buildings, schools etc etc...but the main roads are still falling apart...
Councils frighten me....
 
Our rural road has recently been upgraded thanks to the Forestry Commision [or whatever it is called now] and a windfarm grant. Up till then it has been desperate.

Re Cooncils, having worked for them for 20 years there is both good and bad.

Many times times they are legally restricted from doing the sensible thing.
The main problem is the Councillors and not the Council.
They do not want to make sensible decisions that will lose them votes.
They are generally poorly educated/experienced for the role they are asked to perform.

In my case English Councillors and senior officers outperform Scottish Councillors and senior officers on a scale of 50%

I liken them all to golf club committee members, every third one is a gem.
 
maxfli65 said:
Councils are corrupt, the whole structure they operate under is designed for endless discussion whilst nothing gets done efficiently, they are funded by the taxpayer so there's no real accountability - no one is checking for value for money, every project goes miles over budget. Thankfully they have had the sense to reduce employees and tender work out to the private sector but they then award contracts to the smallest chepaest outfit who then take 10 months to do what a big operator could do in 3, there's a huge knock on and cost for all the businesses affected by these drawn out job times but councils just cant see it. Instead of encouraging business with incentives to fill the reams of empty shops in towns they charge exorbitant business rates that are wholly unaffordable for small businesses and then compound that by deterring motorists(customers) with ridiculous parking restrictions and charging in desperation to raise revenue - so backward. Councillors are on the gravy train, an I'm alright Jack culture, always have been, expenses left right and centre, love the sound of their own voice, they're wannabee politicians with political affiliations so will argue for arguing sake, that's what they do. Talking shops that meet and meet and never make a good decision, free lunches and dinners all the way. The whole housing crisis and unaffordability in the UK can be largely blamed on council planning departments systems not keeping up. Edinburgh's trams - case in point! Wheelie bins and boxes everywhere, road signage at £10k per sign, 3,2,1 signs coming into every village from both sides for 30mph zones and some claim they dont waste any money...unbelievable! Councils structures should be completely re-organised and criteria for being employed by a council changed and joe public should NOT be paying more council tax until value for money can de proven......in my view:angry: Councils are a shambles.
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Out of interest...did you vote in the local elections?
 
While i'm on the Roads subject have you noticed the amount of rubbish along rural roadsides. The trees and bushes are strewn with plastic bag sherds and the verges littered with all manners of trash.
 
SocketRocket said:
While i'm on the Roads subject have you noticed the amount of rubbish along rural roadsides. The trees and bushes are strewn with plastic bag sherds and the verges littered with all manners of trash.
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Maybe the councils could use a high profile persons birthday as cover to blag joe public into tidying up the mess!
 
SocketRocket said:
While i'm on the Roads subject have you noticed the amount of rubbish along rural roadsides. The trees and bushes are strewn with plastic bag sherds and the verges littered with all manners of trash.
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There is a road near me covered in beer tins. Thousands of them. They are piled in the gutters like fallen leaves. This road is only about half a mile long, and is in the middle of no where, so who ever is doing it must be driving too. The only relief from the tins, is the cardboard bases and polythene from flat packs of 24.
 
jdpjamesp said:
Up here in Lancaster they're building a new bypass. In the meantime they've rerouted all the heavy traffic down roads that weren't designed for the sheer weight of it. It's mostly freight off to Heysham for Dublin. The roads are collapsing left right and centre. Potholes are unavoidable. Absolutely shocking. Literally.
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But you've already got a bypass....it's called the M6 !
 
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