Hole lot of trouble
The additional cash will take the
local authority's expected seasonal
spend for gritting and mopping-up
activities to more than 1 million.
Previously 750,000 was deemed
sufficient to cover an average
winter — but not one which
recorded unprecedented low
temperatures locally.
As the ERC cabinet passed the
money transfer, council leader Jim
Fletcher paid tribute to the
"excellent job in the bad weather"
done by the roads' department
"and many people who worked
through their holidays".
He added that he was also
amazed his bin was collected
regularly during the last snowy
month, despite living "at the top of
a hill".
Since the snow began thawing
massive potholes have been
appearing almost daily in southside
streets, and East Renfrewshire's
not alone in becoming pockmarked.
Glasgow's roads are breaking up
too, but claims that the city council
will spend 4 million on filling
highway holes are wide of the
mark, according to a roads'
department spokesman.
He explained that the figure
includes original costs plus
anything incurred over winter:
"The maintenance budget, which
covers snow clearing and gritting,
was 1.5m but we believe another
2.5m will have to be added to
cover this winter's severe conditions.
"Budgets have not yet been
drawn up for next year so it is too
early to say just how much it will
cost to repair the potholes caused
by the cold weather".
Prestige Tyres in Busby has
already seen the start of what's
expected to be a busy period.
Spokeswoman Gillian McLean
said: "The roads are bad and its
only going to get worse".
She told The Extra: "We've had
quite a few people coming to us
with bulges in the walls of their
tyres.
"That needs a new tyre, because
the bulge is a weak spot that could
burst. They're usually caused by
potholes.
"We've had a top-of-the-range
BMW in recently with a cracked
wheel after going over potholes
"Even I went over one last week
and the noise is unbelievable on
some of the holes in the roads".
As advertised in last week's
Extra, Prestige offers a free tyre
check for anyone with concerns.
Some drivers, who've had tyres
replaced, have attempted to recoup
the cost of their new treads from
councils' accounts.
Between January 1 and January
19 this year, ERC had received (and
onpasssed to its insurer) 11 claims
from motorists seeking damages
because of potholes. This is more
than five times the total a year ago,
which, for the same period, totalled
just two.
Potholes can be reported online
at both council websites.
On Glasgow, follow the roads
and lighting faults (RALF) link on
the getting around page under
residents. East Ren's site takes
reports of potholes via its customer
connect page.
REPORTERS Elaine Liddle, Louise Brown and
David Oliver say these are the worst potholes
they've encountered across the southside.
Elm Street, Busby: Fast becoming a nightmare,
a rapidly-growing crater stands on the corner of
the Birch Avenue junction.
Thornliebank Road, just after Burnfield Road.
Heading towards Glasgow drivers hit a multitude
of road layers, at varying levels of decay.
Eaglesham Road, corner of Cartsbridge Road:
horrific-looking edge where the second layer of
road can be seen clearly, as a large section has
collapsed in on itself.
Nitshill Road, Darnley: A small drain cover in
the middle of the off-side lane heading west has a
deep hole acting as a moat around it and causing
double trouble for tyres.
Albert Drive: The west Pollokshields end is
littered with huge holes, but some awful ones, at
the brow of the hill near Dalziel Drive, have
recently been filled in.
Gower Street, Pollokshields: Entrance to Extra
HQ and Bellahouston Academy is one of the worst
roads in the area, the cobbled railway bridge feels
smoother than the tarmac.
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