Forum Topic

Appalling roads in Ealing

The council makes a huge amount of money, raises most of its revenue in fact from parking restrictions and parking fines - so what happens to that money? Driving around Ealing today I was shocked at how bad the roads now are.

jane kelly ● 4269d21 Comments

A few roads in Ealing are in appalling condition, with uneven patches and numerous potholes.  We were given a lift today and Grange Road is dreadful - so bumpy and slightly dangerous imo.

Gerry Tan ● 4250d

I think we can add the newly-restored portion of Popes Lane between the South Ealing Road and Olive Road as an appalling road following Smurphys attack on it. New pothole, sunken areas of new back-filled and finished road surface, flooded gulleys on both sides of the road that will no drain because the heavy plant has destroyed the camber, a sensation over driving over undulating terrian. Depressed kerbstones, etc.

Neil F. Weber ● 4251d

See the new scrutiny panel no 1 committee's forward planning in the full agenda document (penultimate document in the listing).http://ealing.cmis.uk.com/ealing/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/865/Committee/91/Default.aspxIt will be seen that the Members will not be considering pot holes and road surfaces until 15 April next year. If we knew how long it will take for any beneficial decisions to follow on from that meeting our bank managers would be saluting us as rich customers.How much longer do we have to be let down by our senior transport road officers?

George Knox ● 4253d

Grange Road, even with the 'patching' is like a rural cart track.

Nigel Brooks ● 4253d

The state of the footpath in Fielding walk has to be seen to be believed, it's almost impossible to push a pram down there for instance!

Jim McCauley ● 4253d

Yes, the Councillors are pretty quiet these days.  I miss the buzz of Anne Chapman, Mssrs. Kapoor and Cowing.  Times change I guess.

Gerry Tan ● 4264d

Anyone noticed how quiet and low profile councillors have been since the elections?

Anthony Waller ● 4264d

Keep reminding the local authority and Ward Councillors Martin, until they take notice. I remember your plea about the pavement at Pitshanger - I walk with the aid of a stick now and I get annoyed at uneven pavements. Keep at 'em!

Gerry Tan ● 4264d

GerryYou should try walking along Pitshanger Lane's northern footpath east of Princes Gardens. I have mentioned the appalling and degrading state of this pavement before and will continue to do so until the Council of whatever political persuasion takes action. I have raised the matter with the then Conservative ward councillors, the local residents association and at a Ward Forum - So far deafening silence.

Martin C. Harris ● 4264d

Some roads in Ealing are plain dangerous and badly in need of repair.  Similarly, the pavement in The Green, just north of The Grove is badly uneven and full of holes - quite dangerous to walk - we saw a man stumble and fall recently.

Gerry Tan ● 4265d

I was promised a hoverboard but that never happened....

Tom Clifford ● 4267d

I've often wondered why, in this day and age, we can't create something more advanced for road surfaces that can at least last a winter before turning into moon rock.  And include some sort of antifreeze ingredient in the mix too while your at it to prevent icy roads.  This isn't the future we were promised!  :)

Andy Vaughan ● 4267d

Three factors as far as I see it.The shotgun, willy-nilly approach of utility companies to digging up roads and poor monitoring of the quality of reinstatement.Speed bumps (speed tables are fine). look at the (non-scrape) damage around them.The overarching reason though is the "resurface at lowest cost" mentality. One only has to look at recently (couple of years old) resurfaced roads in Hanwell to assess the amount of cracking and damage on the 'skim and top' surfacing method used.Do it cheap, do it twice (or more) do it right, do it once.

Nigel Brooks ● 4267d

A car even a oversized 4X4 wont damages the road.  The only thing oversized cars do in small streets is use up too much road space.It is the increased axle weight allowance on HGVs that is the core cause of road wear.London Buses are also much heavier than the older types, use more fuel and cause a lot of wear, the heavy axle load and hammer blow of the bendy bus fully laden  is attributed to the sudden increase in water and gas main fractures in the Oxford street area alone.But with the population exploding in this part of London, yet health and infra-stucture facilities are reducing and the public transport facilities are barely able to keep up, more must be done to ensure roads and footways are kept in good condition and upgraded in quality to last longer.The present resurfacing standards are way to low to meet the permitted load allowances on HGVs using non A rated roads.More than enough revenue is raised from paying road users to address this.

Anthony Waller ● 4267d

Your points are true and valid, but add to them that local authorities are strapped for money and spend their dwindling resources on other more essential demands. You're so correct in that our roads and pavements are getting more and more 'knackered' - alarmingly so!

Gerry Tan ● 4268d

Why are our roads getting more knackered than ever? Well it might be worth considering the following:-Roads are carrying more motorised traffic nationally (as an example more and more people do online shopping which needs delivering);More gas guzzlers going through the borough to avoid the congestion zone (e.g A406 and then rat running when blocked);More traffic in all outer London boroughs as more people move out of central London;More skip lorries damaging our roads as building extensions soar (people rather extend than move due to house prices);A big spurt in the luxury end of the market leading to the manufacturing of bigger and heavier cars (e.g. the Chelsea tractor);I am not defending the council, but just want to put into people minds why the poor state of roads could be accelerating. (The pun was not intended).

Ben Owen ● 4268d

Roads - try the pavement or as some would call it - footpath on south side of Pitshanger Lane going east from Princes Gardens. Not been replaced in nearly 30 years, cut into and carved up by every undertaking known to man. Pockets of water in wet weather and ice in winter. How an older person with impaired walking has not fallen and broken a leg is a miracle. Neither political party shows the slightest bit of interest in rectifying this disgrace.

Martin C. Harris ● 4268d

"The council makes a huge amount of money, raises most of its revenue in fact from parking restrictions and parking fines"I'd be interested to see your evidence for that one.  Highly doubt it.

Thomas Barry ● 4268d

South Ealing Road from the Hounslow boundary to the station is dreadful.Almost impossible to cycle along and the bus is like being in the USS Enterprise when under attack from the Klingons!And yet some roads get resurfaced that have perfectly good surfaces.It's just as bad over the border in Hounslow. The poor roads never get repaired but good ones get regular attention.Never fathomed that one out.

Anthony Waller ● 4268d

If selection of roads to resurface is politically motivated why safe wards - marginal surely?

Philip Coe ● 4269d

They are in may areas Jane, and my sincere apologies for using this adjective, bloody awful.The council blame budget cuts but somehow they managed to resurface a load of roads in safe labour wards just before the election.Cynical? Me? Yes!

Nigel Brooks ● 4269d