UK road's potholes so bad locals say driving down it 'is like WW3 kicking off'
Locals living in a small village say their peaceful road now looks like "World War Three has kicked off" due to the disastrous potholes that have appeared on their street.
Residents in Maltby, which is just outside of Ingleby Barwick, have been left frustrated by the overwhelming number of potholes. They say they spend most of their time sweeping up stones which keep "flipping up" as a result. And warned the damage road surface is "causing a danger to motorists, cyclists and horse riders".
The locals believe their village, which had just 293 residents in 2011, is being "neglected" by Stockton Council. Resident Christopher Davies, 45, said "really bad" potholes on High Lane, the central road that runs through the village, are "keeping families awake" due to the vibrations when vehicles hit the cavities.
Christopher, who first moved to Maltby in 2011, said the potholes, which are just metres from his home, were causing him and nearby neighbours misery, after being on the road "for weeks". Images show the state of the potholes - one of which was only last week patched up by the council.
This pothole was eventually patched over by the council (UGC)Speaking about the pothole sage, Chris said: "They have progressively gotten worse and worse. Maltby is terrible now with traffic - of all the places and villages in this country it shouldn't be here that is so bad with road surfacing. This pothole is becoming a really big bugbear. Cars are lifting the stones and they are getting flipped up - I go out every morning and sweep the drive. It's just annoying."
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Christopher claims that he has reported the issue to the council on several occasions, but that "nothing happens". He continued: "Last week they sent a road sweeper out. My neighbour has got a newly rendered cream wall and now parks his car on the road to stop it from becoming discoloured!"
Residents of a quiet Teesside village say they are being kept awake at night due to potholes (Teeside Live)It's not just potholes that are raising eyebrows in Maltby either, with claims that the road has become a "race track" due to speeding drivers. Christopher argued that - while things may seem quiet on the roads during the day - in the mornings and at peak times in the afternoon, the road becomes "like the M25".
He also said that concerns over speeding aren't new - and that people had been fighting for speed-calming measures for decades before he joined the community. Maltby currently has a gateway in place to help slow vehicles down when entering - but residents want more measures, like the speed bumps seen in the nearby village of Thornton.
Thornton made national headlines last year after residents were given more speed-calming measures but instead argued that Middlesbrough Council had installed the "smoothest speed bumps in England". They argued the village had become a race track - leading to the council later agreeing to enhance them.
Residents in Maltby have raised their concerns over speeding (Teesside Live)High Lane currently has a 30mph speed limit, unlike Thornton's 20mph. Alan Simpson, chairman of the parish council, said there had been discussions over getting the speed limits reduced over the years but that the council never opted to reduce it.
A council spokesperson said, while there have been "no reported injury collisions in the area for the past five years", it will arrange for a speed survey to be carried out. Alan recalled one incident where a tractor and trailer reportedly swerved off the road and "took one side of the car off". He described it was a scary moment where he thought for a moment that he "was dead".
The roads aren't the only issue either - with residents claiming there had not been any maintenance carried out along the village paths in years - despite the area having several elderly residents. Stockton Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, Councillor Clare Gamble, said: “We appreciate the concerns raised by the resident and as with all roads in the borough, we carry out regular inspections in the Maltby area.
“High Lane has been resurfaced this financial year – and works are planned for another section of the road, although no date as yet has been determined for this. We will also carry out a site visit to check the pothole which the resident has highlighted.
“The gateway in place helps slow vehicles down when entering the village and we are pleased to report there have been no reported injury collisions in the area for the past five years. However, as the resident has flagged to us about potential speeding issues, we will arrange for a speed survey to be carried out.
“Of course, whilst it is the police’s legal responsibility to enforce speed limits, we take road safety very seriously and will continue to support them in their work to change drivers’ behaviour across the borough.”
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