‘If more cash was spent on clearing grids, we’d have a lot less potholes’
BLOCKED grids are causing major problems on a Staffordshire Moorlands road.
Now residents and parish councillors have called on Staffordshire County Council to unblock and clean out the grids along Brund Lane and Coalpitford Lane, Cheddleton, which are causing silt to built up on the road and lead to flooding.
One resident said that he had been reporting the problems on the road since 2017.
Jon Harris said: “My attempts to resolve this issue go back several years with the county council and have achieved very little, only an occasional patch repair which is blown out by the rising water in just a few days.
“If the county council diverted resources to more maintenance in clearing grids, it would save lots of money and we would have a lot less potholes.
“I spend a couple of hours on a regular basis clearing the build-up of silt in the carriageway, clearing drain covers and creating run-off gullies in order to keep the road passable for vehicles.
“I’m sure that if this hadn’t been done the road would have, on occasion, been impassable and unsafe.
“Water is pouring out of the previously patched area on the corner of Coalpitford Lane/brund Lane. The water emerged through the freshly applied tarmac on the same day the repair was made.
“This water cascades down the lane to the bridge, and also down the lane towards Lee House. Consequently, there is ongoing erosion resulting in potholes that would not occur if the drainage issue was resolved.
“As soon as an area is patched, water underneath it blows off the tarmac. It is now a danger, especially for motorbikes and cyclists.
“I have probably removed three to four tonnes of silt from the middle of the road. When low cars come through, it could damage their sumps.”
Chairman of Cheddleton Parish Council, Mike Bowen, below, who also has the responsibility for communities on Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said that they were aware of the problem along the road. He said: “We have contacted Staffordshire County Council explaining the situation. It is like a river, then the water freezes. It needs sorting out. “A resident has been forced to dig a ditch to try and help the water flow, which he should not have to do.
“Grids across the Moorlands are beginning to look like allotments with grass and weeds growing out of them.
“As a district council, we want to take over grid cleaning in the Staffordshire Moorlands. We are presently awaiting a response from the county council.”
David Williams, cabinet member for highways and transport at
Staffordshire County Council, said: “The severe weather conditions we are experiencing at the moment have taken their toll on the highway network, and our crews are working around the clock to keep gullies clear and roads safely open.
“Highways crews are aware of a possible break in the pipe at the location, and some investigative work to identify the problem has been scheduled in for February.
“Once we know what the problem is, any repairs will be scheduled and prioritised as required.
“A highways inspector will continue to monitor the situation in the meantime.”
Leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, said: “The answer is for Staffordshire County Council to allow Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to take on gully cleaning. It is as simple as that.
“I continue to press for an agreement, but no decision has yet been made.”