RINGLESTONE RESIDENTS LOSE PATIENCE WITH THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT
January 11, 2005 9:57 AM
Roads Are Crumbling
Residents of Ringlestone Estate in Maidstone say that their roads are crumbling. Plans for repair have been promised, and repeatedly delayed.
Now, 115 residents have signed a petition to be presented to the Chairman of KCC Highways Advisory Board this morning, 11th January. They are asking for a full survey to be carried out into the condition of the roads on the estate, for a plan for urgent repairs to be drawn up, and that they should be informed about plans for the work programme.
This petition has already been presented to the Chairman of the Maidstone Joint Highways Board, and officers asked to make a report to the next meeting of the Board.
Margaret Featherstone, the Local Member, said: "The two main roads on the Ringlestone Estate are in extremely poor condition. The actual foundation of these roads is breaking up. Repairs for Dickens Road have been promised since the spring of 2004, and have not happened. The reason given has been that the EDF cable for the incinerator will go down this road.
"Calder Road is in a similar state. As apparently KCC only allocated money in their current budget for repairs to road surfaces, not crumbling foundations, Maidstone Highways Unit did not even apply for repairs to this road.
"It seems nonsense that money is only allocated for roads in a better state of repair! I hope that this petition will ensure that money for proper repairs to the roads in the worst state will be allocated in next year's budget."