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Minster residents in The Broadway ask: "When are they going to mend this 'deadly' road?"

John Freeman with the crumbling road surface in The Broadway, Minster
John Freeman with the crumbling road surface in The Broadway, Minster

timesguardian@thekmgroup.co.uk

@TimesGuardian

Angry residents are still calling on Kent County Council (KCC) to find a long term solution to pothole problems on one of the Island’s busiest roads.

The Broadway in Minster with its crumbling surface has been described as “disgusting”, “disgraceful” and “deadly”.

However, KCC has refused to reveal what its plans are. Instead, a spokesman said: “An assessment of the condition of the existing road has been undertaken. We are currently looking at the options available to carry out maintenance works.”

Over the past two months, the council has repaired potholes along the road on four separate occasions as a result of inspections and calls from residents.

But residents claim these repairs have been a waste of time and money because full resurfacing is needed.

Joyce Covell, of The Broadway, Minster, showing the damage at the road's junction with Shurland Avenue
Joyce Covell, of The Broadway, Minster, showing the damage at the road's junction with Shurland Avenue

Joyce Covell who lives in the The Broadway, said the state of the road is atrocious and the conditions are only going to get worse in winter.

She said: “The road is always being patched up but it needs to be stripped right back and redone completely. There is no point in keep refilling the potholes because a hard frost, heavy snow or rain comes along and out it comes again.”

Residents have identified the stretch of road at the bottom of Shurland Avenue as being the most dangerous part for drivers and cyclists with a 3in-deep pothole.

Sheila Jameson, who lives in the road, said she has been calling on the council for over a year now as the minor repairs cannot handle the volume of traffic.

She said: “The repair work that is being carried out is not of good quality and the road is becoming worse than ever.” She said she has spent around £250 over the past 18 months on car repairs.

Another resident, Jackie McCorkell said: “For the amount of traffic that uses this road, it should be better maintained. The council needs to do a major overhaul because this is a main road and it is getting worse.”

David Dutton from Queens Garage, in Chequers Road, Minster, said he has witnessed a noticeable increase in trade over the past few months due to pothole damage.

He said: “We have had quite a few cars coming in recently with damage to suspensions, ball joints and wheels. Something needs to be done to prevent this kind of damage to cars.”

The KCC spokesman did not give a date when maintenance work will be carried out, but said: “We will continue to monitor the road and any safety critical areas will be attended to.”

John Freeman says it’s in such a state with the crumbling surface and dozens of potholes that there’s bound to be an accident before long.

Not only is he concerned about someone being injured, he’s also fed up with his house being covered in muck every time it rains as the potholes fill up and heavy vehicles spray the water everywhere.

He said: “It’s terrible and it’s getting worse and worse.

“I have never seen it as bad as this. It’s about time something was done.”

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