A petition supported by Ealing Liberal Democrats to Labour-run Ealing Council has resulted in a win for locals in Southfield to get their road fixed.
Earlier this year, a locally led petition in Southfield ward regarding Temple Road was delivered to Councillor Mohinder Midha, Mayor of Ealing Council on behalf of residents concerned about the state of their roads.
At yesterday’s (29 March 2023) Ealing Council Cabinet meeting, the council said it would be addressing a number of pothole issues across the borough’s roads. Ealing Liberal Democrats claim the state of the roads is “the result of “of poor maintenance from the Labour Council which allowed roads to decay and deteriorate”.
Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition said: “I am pleased to see that local engagement, supported by the Liberal Democrats, through a petition will generate a real and meaningful change in the Southfield ward. We urge other residents to report their concerns to us so we can take up their cause to get improvements made to other streets in the borough.”
According to a Asphalt Industry Alliance report, the total number of potholes filled in England and Wales has decreased by 16 per cent from 1.7million reported for the last two years to 1.4million in England and Wales and is the lowest amount in the last 10 years.
In its report, the Asphalt Industry Alliance said: “To really improve conditions and create a safe, resilient and sustainable network, what’s needed is a longer-term funding horizon from central government with more highway budget ring-fencing. This would help local authority engineers to plan effectively and be able to implement more efficient works to protect and enhance the resilience of the local road network.”
Councils including Ealing have also said the Government needs to do more and “must provide local authorities with the resources that they need to enable proactive management of highways”.
An Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “The council does what it can to keep the road network in good condition, as we want to prevent risks to vulnerable highway users and encourage more walking and cycling in the borough. We aim to make dangerous potholes safe within 24 hrs, and permanently repair them within 7 days.
“There is significant cost associated with maintaining the road network, and Government must provide local authorities with the resources that they need to enable proactive management of highways and to prevent safety incidents.”
