howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 February 2011
11:1194559top man at k.c.c. paul carter has stated that £.250 million is needed to get the county's roads up to scratch.
they are responsible for 5000 miles(8047 km) in the county.
the highways budget for the year ending march is £.72 million with it dropping to £.61 million in 2011/2012.
transport minister norman baker has told councils to stop bleating and spend their money more wisely.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
28 February 2011
11:2594561To a certain extent the Minister is right, we all know councils of all colours sometimes get their priorities wrong. If roads were maintained properly in the first place many of them would not be in such a state.
Dover's Albert Road has nearly as many patches as the original surface with still more holes marked to be done, surely not very cost effective.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
28 February 2011
15:0294569Afraid Melbourne is the same, all that time putting down a new surface it now has some huge potholes appearing, so is that money well spent or is that just a waste on KCC part.
As said maintained properly it would not happen so are there any wise heads out there.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
28 February 2011
15:2394570KCC are working on a new financial plan to keep Kent's roads in functional order, and are in contact with the Government on the issue. It would invole a new form of financing, that does not depend on money from the Treasury, but on a a port-levy on cars and foreign lorries, and also envisages that foreign lorries entering Britain cannot carry more than a limited amount of petrol.
This would oblige their drivers to tank in Britain, and in so doing pay petrol tax to the Treasury.
If lorries are supposed to transit in such vast numbers through Kent - and cars too - it is only fair that they contribute towards the upkeep of the roads. So we should give our support to KCC here and encourage them to continue with this proposal.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
28 February 2011
15:3194576This would not work, they would do the same over there. NO WINNERS on that one.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
28 February 2011
15:3794577Vic, over there, in Europe, they do have motor-way tolls which bring in billions of pounds a year, which we do not have in Britain, so it is not unfair, but basicly in line with Eiuropean policy.
I do believe that over there, in Europe, there are also countries that have limits on how much petrol a lorry can bring over the border, a bit like having a limit on the amount of tobacco and alcohol drinks that can be brought over the border of a country, or gold items.
May-be you should finnd out how much it costs to transit along a motorway in France, Vic!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
28 February 2011
15:5194580alexc is right on this one k.c.c. have approached the government with what seems a very fair idea.
it is all much the same as motorway and bridge tolls, will give a more level playing field for our haulage industry and benefit us with having better maintained roads.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
28 February 2011
20:2694634I read today in a paper that we really shouldn't call them potholes but more like faulty workmanship and the road layers who should be told to repair them at their own cost. Would you pay to keep having your drive relaid because of poor workmanship? If they had to keep returning to fix the roads maybe that way the companies would ensure a higher standard of work.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
28 February 2011
20:4794639looks like the romans are making a come back with the amount of pot holes.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
At least their roads lasted longer Brian.
I think Marek has a point about the quality of the road-surfacing and good luck to KCC.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Here is Norman Baker on television last night speaking to John Warnett saying those words mentioned by Howard above..basically that Councils should stop bleating about cuts in funding and get on with the job. It seems..but no it cant be true.. that not all councils spend our money wisely.
Our cut in Kent of the recently promised £100million for potholes ( and they say they cant find any money!?) as far as i can gather as I was half asleep watching the programme is only about £5million. A piddling amount for such a large county. Be prepared therefore to bounce around on your suspension for some time to come.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
bad enough on four wheels, life threatening for those on two wheels.
