DUE to the recent outcry regarding the state of our roads being riddled with potholes, I thought a different way of conducting procedures in relation to claims against the council may be worthy of consideration.

This is as a result of certain claims being made by people known to me, who have experienced damage to their vehicles and tyres, and them being told by Bradford Council (or their agents) to go away, or words to that effect.

The basis of these claims, which I believe to be legitimate, being turned down is that the road in question was inspected in recent days and found to be without the claimed pothole. Can you believe that?

Perhaps a list of the roads checked, and by whom, plus the time and date should be kept by the council and made available under the Freedom of Information Act.

Almost every road in the area I travel along is littered with potholes, and if – as is required by law apparently – the road is checked regularly, why then are the potholes in their thousands not seen by this observer?

Perhaps someone is checking the roads during the hours of darkness, or is not doing their job properly.

If done properly then the council would not have to spend thousands of pounds or more on remedying the faults.

The answer may be to instigate proceedings under the Highways Act (S41) 1980 which clearly states the council is responsible for maintaining roads in a safe condition.

Perhaps as a starter for ten the council could state publicly what its definition is of the word ‘safe’, as some of the potholes I see are capable of causing serious injury to a motorcyclist or pedal cyclist who disappears down one.

No doubt the council and the agents will find pot, sorry loop, holes in the legislation.

Just another failure of our governing bodies to give us the care we deserve, and pay for.

The only positive remark I can make is that our local councillor, Rebecca Poulsen, does her best in trying to rectify such situations.

BRIAN HINCHLIFFE Marsh Oxenhope

* A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Any reports of damage as a result of potholes are investigated by our highways team and referred to our insurers to ensure a consistent approach.

“We have a well established regime of inspection and assessment and a recognised system of recording information about road and footway conditions.

“The frequency of the inspections are within the national guidelines and depend on the type of road and the amount of traffic that use them.

“A-roads are inspected monthly, B and C roads every three months and minor roads annually. Inspections are also made following reports of highway defects from members of the public including councillors.

“All our inspectors are very experienced, highly trained and work to national regulations.

“Our inspectors and repair crews are out every weekday checking and filling in holes. Potholes can and do appear very quickly, especially when we have very wet or cold conditions.

“It is not possible to prevent them from forming nor is it realistic to expect them to be filled instantaneously.

“Bradford is ranked second in West Yorkshire for ‘Condition of Road Surfaces’ according to the National Highways & Transport (NHT) Public Satisfaction Survey for 2017.”