Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire reacts to council’s botched pothole repairs
The poorly repaired potholes in and around Didcot are damaging vehicles and putting safety at risk, according to a county councillor.
Ian Snowdon, who represents Didcot West, has criticised Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, for its programme of pothole repairs.
According to Mr Snowdon, highways bosses are “presiding over a complete failure that is leaving residents to drive on dangerous roads, damaging vehicles and putting safety at risk”.
Mr Snowdon said residents across Didcot and the surrounding area are becoming increasingly frustrated by poor-quality pothole repairs that fail within days, and serious potholes being left for months despite repeated reports through the council’s FixMyStreet portal.
One motorist Laurence Williams said: “It’s no good to make roads safer by introducing lower speed limits everywhere if the roads are in the shocking state of repair.
“This is a highways department that wants to encourage cyclists yet puts them in harm’s way by not giving them decent road surfaces to cycle on.
“Prioritise fixing the roads before all the other nonsense they seem to be obsessed with.”
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Some people argued the council’s own website, Fixmystreet, isn’t fit for purpose and isn’t regularly checked.
One critic Simon Hall said: “We lost two tyres the other day due to the large trench at the Headington roundabout.
“It is very dangerous as the hole leads directly onto a fast dual carriageway and we could have suffered a blow out with kids in the car.”
Similarly, Harriet Jones, said: “The one at the top of Abingdon Road has been like it for months, the same as the ones between Marsh Bridge Road about and Tesco.
“It would be a different story if someone from the council hit a pothole that would soon be repaired though.”
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Locals agreed with the councillor that the current method of fixing potholes doesn’t make the repairs significantly permanent.
Motorist Melvyn Trehearne said: “They fixed my end of Queensway six months ago, but a large one appeared on the side of the road.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ll bother asking someone to fix my street, because by the time they come and fix it, one or two more will appear.”
Other residents argued not enough of the budget is being spent on repairs and is instead being focused on less important projects.
Penny-Anne Payne said: “It’s not just potholes that need doing there are pavements that need redoing too. Less road signs more money available more repairs done properly.”
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “Oxfordshire County Council has a limited budget to maintain roads, paths and cycle paths.
“So we can best manage this, we fix reported potholes based on the risk that they pose to all road users. At the same time, we carry out scheduled maintenance.”
The county council has been contacted for further comment.
The annual Wallingford Vehicle Rally and Parade once again proved to be a ‘tremendous success’, according to the organiser, held in the town on Sunday, May 10.
Bringing together classic car enthusiasts, charities and locals, the memorable day saw a record-breaking 330 vehicles assemble at Wallingford Sports Park before parading through the town.
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After rolling down streets lined by cheering crowds, the cars parked in the Kinecroft for the day to celebrate motoring heritage and community spirit.
Mark Brett MBE, chair of the Wallingford Vehicle Rally and Parade, said: “This event, like so many held in Wallingford, simply could not happen without the incredible support of volunteers, local organisations, sponsors and the wider community.
“Thank you to everyone who continues to support, help and donate to keep these important events thriving in our town.”
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This year’s event so far raised an impressive £28,000 for charity, which will go to selected local causes, many of whom also attended to raise awareness and support on the day.
Sporting Bears offered passenger rides in classic cars, with proceeds donated to SeeSaw, and other community groups present included the Wallingford Corn Exchange, Wallingford Scouts and the Army Cadet Force, who helped with event operations like vehicle parking.
The Mayor of Wallingford, Ros Lester, also joined the parade, adding to the occasion as one of her last events as mayor before the end of her municipal year of service, on May 12.
With ballot boxes firmly back in storage, “conversations” continue to decide how the authority will be run, with no party winning a working majority.
Labour, which previously ran a minority administration with 21 seats, remains the council’s largest party with 20 seats after the May 7 election.
At the count, Cllr Susan Brown, the de facto council leader who remains leader of the Labour group, said: “I think we’ll want to digest the results of the elections.
“We were very proud in Oxford Labour to stand on our record.
“We put that in front of the people of Oxford, and we have ended the night winning more seats than any other party.”
Discussions which could end with Labour continuing in a minority administration or in a coalition are ongoing, while the impact of electoral losses for the party across the country plays out on the national stage.
Labour MP Anneliese Dodds said: “The Labour Party will have to reflect – and act – to show we’ve heard the message the public conveyed to us on 7th May.”
The Green Party received the highest percentage of votes at the Oxford elections, which saw half of the authority’s seats up for grabs.
The Greens came away with 13 seats, having gained four, its highest number ever on the council.
Chris Jarvis, deputy leader of the Green Group on Oxford City Council, said: “Following the outcome of the local elections, the Green Group is continuing to discuss internally and with other parties on the council how best to deliver a fairer, greener Oxford.
“These conversations are ongoing, with no conclusions having yet been reached.
“In these conversations, the Green Party is working to ensure that the voices of the people who put their faith in us are heard loud and clear in the council.”
The Lib Dems held their seats, but made no gains at the election and had been in talks with the Greens about working together to run the council.
The two parties have a combined total of 22 seats, more than the Labour group, but short of a majority.
Following talks, the Lib Dems said the Green group “does not feel that the numerical advantage over Labour is sufficient”.
Lib Dem leader Cllr Chris Smowton said: “I think it’s a great shame we won’t be going forward with an administration this year.
“However, this time next year we expect to be fighting elections on new boundaries due to council reorganisation, and this is likely to markedly change the electoral arithmetic.
“Therefore, while we would like to be getting on with the business of administration this year, we look forward to bringing a very strong challenge in 12 months’ time.
“We will continue campaigning to deliver a fairer, safer, cleaner Oxford.”
The Greens also ruled out working with the Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA), over differing opinions on issues such as transport.
IOA leader, Cllr David Henwood, said: “The Greens have made it clear that they will not work with the IOA.
“However, our door remains open, as we all have a duty to deliver the services required by law to the people of Oxford.”
He added that he had also offered support to the Labour group, but had not received any response.
The timetable for local government reorganisation currently suggests that, following a decision on whether Oxfordshire will have one, two or three authorities in July this year, “shadow authority” elections will be held in 2027 ahead of the new set-up being put in place by April 2028.
This means whoever takes control of the council may have less than a year in charge.
Negotiations continue.
A man has been arrested in connection with a rape in Banbury on Sunday, March 29 after Thames Valley Police removes wanted man appeal.
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