VIDEO: Anger at ‘carpet-bombed’ Southwater road

David Taylor, 50, from Oak Road, watched two highways contractors working on behalf of West Sussex County Council fill in potholes in his street for an hour last week, and said he could not believe the standard of work.

He lays the blame squarely on Horsham District Council’s Acorn Plus waste disposal lorries for the damage done to the road surface.

“Subsequently they have been filled by West Sussex County Council and the standard of their work is atrocious,” he said.

“I can’t believe the standard of work. It’s totally sub-standard and not consistent and its totally disgusting.”

He said the road was built in the 1950s and were not designed to take 20-tonne lorries.

Mr Taylor owns a motorbike but does not take it out in the rain for fear of going over a pothole hidden by a puddle.

“With the weather it’s only going to get worse in coming months and the coming years,” he added.

“It looks like we have been carpet bombed.”

West Sussex County Council has been dealing with a backlog of reported potholes, caused by the severe wet weather over the Christmas period.

Potholes can now be reported either by a smartphone application, by phone, or on West Sussex County Council’s website. Those of a greater depth than 100mm are supposed to be repaired within five working days of being reported, while WSCC aims to repair potholes of between 40mm and 100mm within 28 days. Call 01243 642105 to report a pothole or visit WSCC’s website at www.westsussex.gov.uk

West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council have been approached for comment. For the full story see this Thursday’s paper.