Cyclists point finger at Bolton Council over road holes

12:35pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

A CYCLING watchdog has ranked Bolton Council as the 56th best of 204 local authorities for fixing potholes.

But FillThatHole.org.uk claims the council has repaired less than half (47 per cent) of the 39 potholes that bikers have reported.

The result leaves Bolton trailing other councils in the table like Blackburn (11th — 71 per cent), Trafford (39th — 59 per cent) and Lancashire (53rd — 48 per cent).

Anthony Cartmell, who developed the site for cycling organisation, Cyclist’s Touring Club, said potholes were becoming a serious hazard.

He added: “With fuel prices going up and congestion problems, cycling is becoming more popular so potentially there are more people at risk.

“Sometimes cyclists can avoid them but if it’s dark and wet or there is heavy traffic, they become an issue.”

Mr Cartmell said it had been a long-standing tradition of cycling organisations to campaign for potholes to be fixed swiftly.

He said: “A hundred years ago potholes were reported by people who rode penny farthings who filled in postcards.

“Now people can put a marker on our map, then we identify which council is responsible and email them the complaint.

“When the local authority replies to say they have fixed it, we update the result on our website.”

The site has received 14,000 reports of potholes and other road hazards since launching last February. Mr Cartmell said that “most” councils were pleased because it helped them identify problem areas.

Rod Bradshaw, who is membership secretary at Horwich Cycling Club, supports the idea.

The 77-year-old, who also teaches youngsters and people who are not confident in the saddle, came off his bike after hitting a pothole in Ormskirk in May.

He said: “It was on a corner and my front wheel dropped and I went flying over the top.

“I was knocked unconscious and won a free night’s bed and breakfast in Southport hospital. I think what CTC is doing is a good idea.

“I’m not the one spending the money but Bolton Council could do better — they are a long way down the list.”