The shocking state of Bexley's pothole-ridden roads and what can be done to fix them
I meet residents who voted for me and those that didn't, some who share my politics and those that don't.
Either way, I will always represent issues brought to me by my constituents.
However, there is often one uniting topic that residents all agree on, and that is potholes and the state of roads across the constituency.
Road maintenance is ultimately the responsibility of the London Borough of Bexley, but it's an issue that keeps coming up again and again.
Residents don't feel their roads are being well maintained.
Back in 2021, when I was a Bexley Councillor, I warned the Conservative administration that their plan to significantly cut the road maintenance budget to stave off the looming pressures of bankruptcy, would come back to haunt them.
When the decision to cut road maintenance funding was made, the council's own documents acknowledged the risks of more insurance claims, worsening road conditions, and a reduced ability to maintain highways to safe standards.
Daniel Francis, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Image: Nikki Powell) The document produced for leading councillors in the administration prior to the decision being agreed, admitted this could lead to more damage to vehicles, property, and personal injury.
The data in the council's highways maintenance transparency report published on its website speaks for itself.
According to these statistics:
· The number of main roads (A roads) in the borough rated in the council's red category i.e. roads that require urgent attention, has increased by 680% in the last four years.
· During this period, minor roads (B and C roads) in the red category have increased by a staggering 866%.
That's why the Labour Government stepped in announcing a landmark investment earlier this year.
Local councils have received an extra £500 million – enough to fill 7 million potholes a year.
For Bexley this equates to an additional £895,000 for the council to fix the potholes across the borough.
As your local MP I'm not responsible for the decisions the council makes, but I'm taking action.
I've been out identifying potholes the council has missed - making sure this funding is used where it's needed most.
I'm reporting every pothole I find on the FixMyStreet app, so you can track my reports in real-time.
I've been shocked to see that this money isn't being spent.
By making these reports, I'm ensuring that the council uses the money which the Government supplied to repair potholes across our borough.
At the time of writing, I've reported 82 potholes across three council electoral wards in Crook Log, Crayford, and Northumberland Heath and there are more to go; as I monitor the position across Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, West Heath, and Slade Green & Northend wards.
I've spoken to a number of constituents when I've been out reporting potholes and please do say hello if you see me out and about in the constituency with my tape measure on my pothole patrol.
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