Fury as residents of UK town told average wait to fix potholed road is 103 YEARS

Residents in a UK town whose road hasn't been resurfaced in 42 years have been stunned to learn that the national average wait time is "more than most people's lifetimes". Homeowners on Horsham Close in Banbury, Oxfordshire, said their pothole-ridden road hasn't been the subject of major repair works since 1983. After demanding action from their country council, they were shocked to learn that they might have to wait another 61 years before action is taken, however, with the road repair cycle across the country averaging 103 years.

The figures were published in the latest Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey (ALARM), and left grandparents Ian and Elaine Bowyer furious. "We've lived on this road for 42 years," Ian, 66, said. "It was 18 months old when we got it. It hasn't had a full resurface in the 40-odd years. There's lots of potholes, but they just do a quick patch job. Once you get moisture, it freezes and comes up again."

"I don't know how they could get a 103-year wait," he added. "If that's true, that is ridiculous. I've got a feeling, unless there was a serious accident, I don't think it would be done. They keep complaining the council hasn't got any money, but they aren't replacing anything at all.

"103 years to wait for a road is unheard of. It's more than most people's lifetime."

Retired print finisher and grandma Dianne Hart, 76, who lives on Horsham Close with her family, warned that the road may not exist at all by the time repairs get underway.

"Why should we have to wait that long?" she said. "We won't have a road in 103 years time. The state of the road takes the steering out of your hands, it's that bumpy ... I've lived here with my son-in-law for nearly 30 years. It's just getting worse."

Dad-of-two Stuart Cuckney, 59, added: "We've lived here for nine years. It's bad on the top, they've had a go at the potholes but it's not fixed. You definitely notice when you drive down it.

"75% of the potholes aren't marked. It seems the council aren't bothered. My 86-year-old mum always says, 'your bloody road', but you don't expect it to be sorted."

Andrew Crichton, county councillor for Banbury Hardwick, also called for the road to undergo proper maintenance after decades of only "remedial works". "The road is in a parlous state and desperately needs resurfacing," he argued.

After raising the issue with Oxfordshire County Council, however, he warned that limited funding meant repairs were rolled out on a "risk" basis and meant long wait times for intensive projects.

"This is not just an issue for Oxfordshire, but a national one," he said. "The latest ALARM survey shows that the average resurfacing cycle for all types of roads in England is every 103 years."

A spokesperson the council said: "The main road linking many of these closes, Sussex Drive, was resurfaced a few years ago. Because of budgetary restrictions, we have to prioritise roads based on a number of factors, including prioritising roads that receive more use.

"Members of the public can report issues via Fix My Street. If this is done along with photos, defects can be actioned quickly."