IT’S TIME TO SPLASH THE CASH ON ROADS
Drivers’ plea to council bosses
Drivers have urged roads chiefs to spend big to keep carriageways safe.
Renfrewshire Council revealed almost a quarter of main routes through the region are in need of repair.
The cash-strapped local authority insists it costs almost £ 20,000 to upgrade just one kilometre.
But motorists have flooded social media with demands to resurface and fill dangerous potholes.
Ian Churcher was among those who revealed damage to their cars on the Express’ Facebook page.
He said: “Another £350 worth of damage to my car last week – courtesy of a Renfrewshire Council road.
“It looks like they’ve filled in the hole following my complaint with the usual cream cheese dollop that’s going to last about a month. “Value for taxpayers’ money?” The Express previously revealed how 22.4 per cent of the district’s A- class roads were flagged- up for repair in 2016-17.
Figures increase for the district’s 62km of B-class routes, with 27.5 per cent needing work.
And roads chiefs admit 36.9 per cent of C-class roads – which account for 140km of carriageways – should be upgraded.
Previously, concerns have been raised by Express readers about potholes in Garry Drive, Stow Brae, Blythswood Drive and Andrew Street – all in Paisley.
Wendy Mckechnie slammed poor driving conditions. She said: “The roads are shocking. “On Christmas Day, a hidden pothole ripped my tyre, leaving me and my two kids stuck.
“Then there are the awful speeds bumps which got taken away in Foxbar and replaced with even higher ones, which are completely uneven.
“I don’t know why I bother paying taxes when they don’t ensure that roads are maintained to standards.”
More than a third – 36.6 per cent – of Renfrewshire’s 539km of unclassified carriageways require attention.
Scott Manson says visitors arriving at Glasgow Airport are given the wrong impression as soon as they hit the roads.
He said: “You should see the state of Love Street at Glen Street and at the Fountain Gardens.
“Love Street isn’t some quiet culde-sac, but a main arterial road out of the town and probably the main route to the airport.
“Where do the council’s road repair priorities lie?”
And John Macleod told how drivers are being forced to fork-out for damage to cars.
“I pay £240-a-year to be allowed to play dodge the craters and climb the speed bumps without taking my exhausts off.
“Every year I need to replace either a steering component or suspension.
“All this in the country that invented tarmac.
“Patched with rolled-out Oxo cubes now.”
Renfrewshire Council insists wintry conditions and low temperatures have contributed to carriageway damage.
A spokesman said: “The recent severe weather conditions and prolonged gritting have had an effect on roads across Renfrewshire.
“The safety of our road users is paramount and we work hard to ensure roads across Renfrewshire are safe for motorists and cyclists.”
I pay £240-a-year to be allowed to play dodge the craters and climb the speed bumps without taking my exhausts off John Macleod