Sue your council over pothole horror - it's the only way they learn, says JAMES WHALE
UK potholes problem worsens despite £2.5 billion plan.
I wouldn't normally be writing about potholes but last week when I was being driven to hospital we hit one so wide and deep I thought the car was going to overturn. Fortunately, we didn’t, but I’ve no doubt the vehicle suffered quite a bit of damage.
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This winter just gone has been widely described as the worst in recent memory for potholes with damp, freezing conditions exacerbating problems and local authorities doing their best not to spend any money repairing them (money worries haven’t stopped them spending millions of pounds closing roads and squeezing drivers between huge, unused cycle lanes, I note).
Three years ago the Chancellor, a certain Rishi Sunak, announced plans to fill up to 50 million potholes as part of a drive to “level up” Britain. He told Parliament £2.5billion would be invested in local roads over five years to carry out repairs over hundreds of miles.
I wonder where that went?
Keeping the roads clear, clean and safe is – like emptying the bins, keeping the street lights on and cutting grass verges – something for which we pay council tax (which has gone up, again) to our local authorities to cover.
Yet councils seem increasingly unable or unwilling to carry out these tasks.
Equally, I can’t understand what happens to the tax we pay to use the roads – given their generally poor condition.
A photograph (below) showing Mr Sunak, now Prime Minister, inspecting a road on a Darlington housing estate provoked ridicule.
But it’s not a laughing matter for millions of drivers.
When it comes to potholed roads, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if there is a body of opinion within the ranks of councils that the less we drive the better, and if potholes keep us out of our cars that’s all well and good.
After all, you’ve only got to look at congestion charging, low-traffic neighbourhoods and not allowing people to pay for parking using old-fashioned cash –which is in my view utterly discriminatory against anyone without a smartphone, and especially older people.
But there are real safety issues here, not just for motorists but for cyclists and pedestrians too. Lives are in danger while local authorities waste money all over the place. Surely they should be making the pothole disaster a top priority?
New regulations which came in at the start of the month require utility firms to resurface roads to the best possible standard after street works but this needs to be properly enforced, and that remains to be seen.
In the meantime, I suggest anybody whose car is damaged by a poorly maintained road or pothole sues their council.
It’s the only way they’ll learn we want them to stop wasting money and concentrate on the core services.
Crowning glory will be a boost for the nation
I'm fan of the Royal Family and I think the Coronation is going to do wonders for Great Britain PLC. It’ll be great publicity and attract much-needed tourists.
The Royals are like all families, they have their problems, but they are a brilliant PR tool for the nation.
Sad though it undoubtedly was, the late Queen’s funerary processions, accompanied by the new King Charles III in ceremonial uniform, embodied everything magical about our pomp and pageantry.
I know Republicans are trying to pour cold water on the Coronation. But in spite of those protesters waving “Not my king” placards, the majority of the country is proud to have such a sovereign, and to live in a constitutional monarchy. Certainly, looking around at other lands, while it might not be perfect, it’s the most stable form of democracy.
And when William and Kate take over, it will be a whole new era which can only do the nation good.
I have never understood those people who decry our Royal Family, but usually, it’s jealousy or the belief we’d be richer without them!
No matter how bad things might be politically or economically, let’s all get together and celebrate the Coronation. It’s only a few weeks away, so get those street parties organised!
Whatever strikers win, we lose out
I've made my views on strikes pretty well known. But just to reiterate, junior doctors, teachers and those idiots from the passport office are striking at a time that will impact on so many ordinary folk.
I’m sorry, but if you don’t like the jobs you do, go and find other ones. After all, there is a labour shortage now.
I’m sick and tired of being dictated to by people whom we, taxpayers, ultimately fund. People in the public sector tend to get good pensions and better job security.
And they can’t usually expect to earn the same amount of money as those people ducking and diving in the private sector.
Whatever all these strikers finally win for themselves, the rest of us will have lost out in time and trouble.
Fury, amusement and no education
Naked Education, which began on Channel 4 last week, has caused fury and amusement in equal measure. Fury because it showed naked adult bodies to a group of teenagers.
Amusement because, well, it’s utterly ridiculous. It says its aim is to look at body diversity with unclothed people and allow the teenagers to ask questions.
But it should be banned under the trades description act, there’s nothing educational about it.
When my show used to be on ITV in the 90s, people used to say they loved the glamour. And there was hardly any nakedness – apart from the odd male stripper.
If this page offends you... sue me
A new Bill on its way through Parliament would mean staff can sue their bosses if customers offend or harass them. Read that again, just to make sure you understand.
The Worker Protection Bill, an amendment to the Equality Act, has already been waved through the Commons with, apparently, Number 10’s – and thus Rishi’s – approval.
It would, possibly, enable doctors to sue the health service if a patient insults them, bar staff to take legal action if they are offended by drunk punters, and baristas to take coffee shop owners to a tribunal if customers make offensive remarks.
I couldn’t believe it either.
Quite frankly things can’t get any more ridiculous. I’ve been doing a TV and radio show for 50 years and a lot of people complain they’re offended by the things
I say.
Funnily though, the more people I have apparently offended, the more viewers and listeners I seem to get. Nobody has to listen or watch – the choice is yours – but we are becoming a society now where if anybody says anything that offends anyone they’ll be in trouble. This stupidity has got to be stopped. We’re facing all sorts of problems and we’re making a fuss over stuff like this.
I think it’s time to stand up and refuse to be put back in our boxes.
Oh sorry, have I triggered you?
