Warning Norwich pot-holes might not be fixed without government cash injection
Some potholes in Norwich streets could go unfilled unless the government hands the county council a share of �100m.
Although the city council is responsible for getting pot-holes fixed in Norwich, it is the county council which pays for it.
Norfolk County Council has set aside �1.1m to spend on the county's pot-holes in 2010/11, but is hoping to secure around �2.8m more from the government to repair the damage.
Our own Evening News survey in January uncovered reports of significant pot-holes in Gurney Road, near Mousehold Heath, Newmarket Road, Cringleford and at the junction of King Street and Bracondale.
Others have since been spotted in Queens Road, St Stephen's Street, Dereham Road, Jessopp Road, Lakenham Road and Yarmouth Road. With the authority having paid out �350,000 to individuals in compensation for damage caused by pot-holes and road maintenance since 2008, failure to fix roads can prove costly to the council.
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In 2009/10, Norfolk County Council paid out �98,647 in compensation and �252,117 the previous year.
The government gave the county council an extra �2.8m last year so a total of �4.8m could be spent to fix the damage caused by the severe weather. And Graham Plant, cabinet member for travel and transport, said the authority is hoping for a similar amount this time around after December's icy blast left more roads in need of repair. He said: 'We won't be able to do it with the budget we've got. We're hoping that we're going to get some of the slice of the �100m that's been announced nationally.
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'The money will supplement our road maintenance budget and allow us to consolidate earlier pothole repairs, as well as carry out more resurfacing.'
The Department for Transport announced last week that it was offering �100m extra to councils for pot-hole repairs, but will not reveal until March how much each council will receive.
Norfolk County Council officials conceded in January that they were having to make quick-fix, cheaper repairs to the roads.
Have you successfully claimed compensation after a pot-hole problem? Call Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk
