More pot-holes than road? - Defactio

It seems that only numbers count in this world, so with that in mind, does anyone have any idea about any 'movement' that is challenging the government on the state of our roads, specifically - pot-holes?

The moment you raise the issue of having to pay for something (Road tax), some bright spark always chirps up with "it isn't road tax". Well, I don't really care what the government has rebadged it as, I simply know that to ride an affordable, engine driven conveyance on a road - I have to pay a tax. I call that 'road tax' - you call it whatever you wish.

Just as with the 'Council tax' services being eroded off the original 'rates' services - it seems that well maintained roads are no longer the governments responsibility, despite the fact that road tax charges are ever-increasing.

It seems to be a British phenomenon: cream every penny you possibly can - for as little in exchange as possible ('rip off Britain').

It is now positively dangerous (on my motorcycle) to ride on British roads, during fair weather daylight times, when the roads are empty of traffic.And, my expectations are not simply in relation to 'main' roads either - I expect all roads to be 'roadworthy' .

Do I ask for too much with the tax revenues running into approximately £40+ billion per year (yes BILLION!))? It's an embarrassment to the nation.

I once wrote to my local, tory MP (and no - I didn't vote 'em in) and received a reply of: "We will not be dictated-to by the electorate on what we decide to spend taxation on". I wrote back with a simple "Wanna bet?"

Next election - she realised that in reality, she did in fact need to listen to the electorate, because she was out! I wrote her a final letter to congratulate her on realising the facts. Too funny.

What we need is a law passing that guarantees road standards, so that whichever immoral, self-serving government 'gets in' - road tax revenue cannot be taken to prop-up whatever other service is being intentionally neglected.

Anyway - anyone know of any 'joining of forces' to attempt to attack this ridiculous state of affairs?

Edited by Defactio on 14/12/2016 at 13:48

More pot-holes than road? - Steveieb

Anyone driving down the Buckingham to Winslow road will be able to see the new Sustrans cycle route edging the main road.

At a cost of £2.5 million pounds it has a perfect tarmac surface whilst motorist grit their teeth as they travel from pothole to pothole. I saw two cyclist using the route on the outward and return journey.

But according to Private Eye money is being channelled into the roads that can be sold off to private companies to convert into toll roads whilst urban roads are given temporary repairs?

More pot-holes than road? - nailit

Tax eh? don't get me started..... my 'favourite' is National Insurance which leads on to mentioning why a state pension is classed as a benefit. Just try telling OAP's around the country that they are claiming benefits, you would get lynched around here.

Interesting article here ;

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566407/National-...l

Grrrrr

Edited by nailit on 14/12/2016 at 14:58

More pot-holes than road? - gordonbennet

A country with a national debt that cannot, ever, be serviced, and still growing, so much for our wonderful economy, i blame neither of the two main parties nor the fading lib dems, each are as bad as the other and are all equally to blame with the foolish people who elected them on false promises and spin.

Their only answer is to continue the housing bubble by constant increasing demand...elephant in room...and our housing bubble and it's reason seems to be the basis of our economy now, it doesn't take a genius to work out this is going to come a sticky, and increasingly painful end, the longer things stay like this.

There really is no money for repairing/replacing our wrecked infrastructure, and not just the roads, it was never designed to cope with the population, still growing by 1/2 million a year, that we have now...they are fiddling whilst the country burns.

However

''I once wrote to my local, tory MP (and no - I didn't vote 'em in) and received a reply of: "We will not be dictated-to by the electorate on what we decide to spend taxation on". I wrote back with a simple "Wanna bet?"

Next election - she realised that in reality, she did in fact need to listen to the electorate, because she was out! I wrote her a final letter to congratulate her on realising the facts. Too funny.''

has cheered me up no end, thankyou, the way things are going she won't be the only one out, if the status quo had some nasty shocks in 2016, wait until they've welched on the referendum result to see a lot more smacked back side faces come the next election, the difference now is that at least 17 million people have at long last realised the govt, the BBC (especially) and the MSM in general are not their friends and are not to be trusted, hah fake news indeed, we know where to find that just switch the idiot box in the corner on or pick up a rag.

Edited by gordonbennet on 14/12/2016 at 15:23

More pot-holes than road? - alan1302

Do I ask for too much with the tax revenues running into approximately £40+ billion per year (yes BILLION!))? It's an embarrassment to the nation.

It's approx £6 billion so no where close to your £40 billion.

Also you might want to call it Road Tax but that's not what it is called and if you want to join forces with anyone to get the money spent on just the roads then you do need to call it what it is otherwise you look foolish.

And it's not been spent on just the roads since 1937 so would think you will have an uphill struggle getting a change now.

More pot-holes than road? - Bolt

Do I ask for too much with the tax revenues running into approximately £40+ billion per year (yes BILLION!))? It's an embarrassment to the nation.

It's approx £6 billion so no where close to your £40 billion.

Also you might want to call it Road Tax but that's not what it is called and if you want to join forces with anyone to get the money spent on just the roads then you do need to call it what it is otherwise you look foolish.

And it's not been spent on just the roads since 1937 so would think you will have an uphill struggle getting a change now.

I really do not care what you call it, it still has to be paid, the annoying thing is, next year (if then) it is allegedly being spent on the roads ( I do not believe it) at least untill this argumentative government think of something else to spend it on!

More pot-holes than road? - Steveieb
As I mentioned previously there may be some truth in the Private Eye story which claimed that most of the road repairs are being concentrated on major roads which can be sold off to private companies who can introduce tolls. These companies are not interested unless they are handed over in tip top condition whilst the local roads are neglected.
More pot-holes than road? - gordonbennet

Its funny you should mention privatised or privately maintained roads.

The then newly laid A1M section between Alconbury and Peterborough was one of the finest sections of motorway i'd seen in a long time, relatively low volumes of traffic which is likely to remain the case for many years to come, yet an essential road.

What i noticed straight away were the signs placed at intervals with the name of some company or other miantaining this road for the highways agency, thought it kind of odd then, whilst other motorways carrying many times the traffic volmes were literally falling to bits yet no similar signs to be found.

For many years maintenance would have consisted of weeding and sweeping and litter picking, little else, i wonder who paid for those services?

Country in financial crisis, ever lower wage economy leading to ever fewer percentage of wage earner being net contributors, they've got to get revenue to plug the increasing number of holes in the sinking ship from somewhere

especially now our financial genius!? Mr Osborne has cleared off after doubling the national debt that NuLab left.

Edited by gordonbennet on 15/12/2016 at 11:58

More pot-holes than road? - Bolt
As I mentioned previously there may be some truth in the Private Eye story which claimed that most of the road repairs are being concentrated on major roads which can be sold off to private companies who can introduce tolls. These companies are not interested unless they are handed over in tip top condition whilst the local roads are neglected.

Some local roads are gradually being resurfaced, but only the good parts are being done, the bad parts are staying the same, not sure what the logic is in doing it like that, but the council must think its logical (Conservatives again)

More pot-holes than road? - nailit

From the tinternet (and for GB, would you believe the BBC pages) ;

“road tax was abolished in 1937 and replaced by Vehicle Excise Duty.”

“Road tax, founded in 1909 to fund road-building, was already on the way out by 1926 when Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill is reported to have said in a memo:

"Entertainments may be taxed; public houses may be taxed… and the yield devoted to the general revenue. But motorists are to be privileged for all time to have the tax on motors devoted to roads? This is an outrage upon… common sense."

The Treasury got its way, of course, and the tax was folded into general funds.”

More pot-holes than road? - galileo
As I mentioned previously there may be some truth in the Private Eye story which claimed that most of the road repairs are being concentrated on major roads which can be sold off to private companies who can introduce tolls. These companies are not interested unless they are handed over in tip top condition whilst the local roads are neglected.

Some local roads are gradually being resurfaced, but only the good parts are being done, the bad parts are staying the same, not sure what the logic is in doing it like that, but the council must think its logical (Conservatives again)

You will recall that the Tour de France started in Yorkshire a year or two ago: the roads comprising the Tour route were resurfaced nicely beforehand, but since then, of course, dozens of holes have been dug for gas, water and electric services, not all have been reinstated to the same quality.

Northern Gas Networks specialise in digging a hole, putting barriers round it to restrict the flow of traffic, and leaving it to mature for several weeks before returning to actually do anything in the excavation and filling it in. Not just one hole, dozens in the same district, temporary lights and all.

More pot-holes than road? - Bolt

Northern Gas Networks specialise in digging a hole, putting barriers round it to restrict the flow of traffic

I`m surprised to see SGN and water board working on the same Hole in the road, including the temp lights which are slower than the main lights,causing a large tailback, so well done SGN and water board, just what we need before Christmas

More pot-holes than road? - FoxyJukebox

Hertfordshire Highways seem to be spending all their road cash on ENDLESS hedge trimming of the county roads/lanes at the moment( in december!!) --then sending road sweeping lorries to clean up the mess

The result is furious motorists held up by tractor cutters then sweepers, but gloriously shiny clean unsafe roads where you easily spot the plethora of potholes, humps and hazzards!

More pot-holes than road? - galileo

Hertfordshire Highways seem to be spending all their road cash on ENDLESS hedge trimming of the county roads/lanes at the moment( in december!!) --then sending road sweeping lorries to clean up the mess

The result is furious motorists held up by tractor cutters then sweepers, but gloriously shiny clean unsafe roads where you easily spot the plethora of potholes, humps and hazzards!

Probably the RSPB have told them not to cut hedges in Spring/Summer so as not to disturb feathered critters.