Closed
(51.8379787, -0.8738898)
Sent to Buckinghamshire Council less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 8708047.
This stretch of the A41, much like the rest of Buckinghamshire’s road network, is in an absolutely abysmal state.
Driving along it is less like using a public highway and more like driving across the surface of the moon; carefully navigating craters that appear to have been developing since the last ice age. The surface is so uneven it feels as though the road is actively trying to dismantle my suspension, one pothole at a time.
Several of the potholes are deep enough to warrant their own postcode and wide enough to easily cause damage to tyres, wheels, and vehicle alignment. Avoiding them requires constant swerving, which is both unsafe and impractical on a main A-road.
Given that road tax is still collected with impressive efficiency, it would be reasonable to expect the roads themselves to meet at least the minimum standard of “fit for purpose,” rather than resembling a neglected test track for off-road vehicles.
Please could this section of road be inspected and repaired before it claims another tyre, wheel, or unsuspecting motorist’s patience.
Updates
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The report has been passed to the Highway Officer, who will carry out an inspection of the issue within 10 working days, emergency defects will be corrected or made safe at the time of the inspection, if reasonably practicable to do so. In this context, making safe may constitute displaying warning notices, coning‐off or fencing‐off to protect the public from the defect or other suitable action. If the inspection team cannot make safe the defect at the time of inspection, then they will instigate the relevant emergency call procedures to ensure appropriate resources are mobilised to make the defect safe.
There may also be occasions when the issue reported will not be repaired as it has been classified as a minor defect and does not pose any risk to either the safety or the integrity of the highway, these are called minimum recording levels as specified in our Highways Safety Inspection Policy in these cases no action will be taken.
During winter months we receive a very high number of reports regarding potholes or a poor road surface, it's easy to assume that potholes are formed due to roads being poorly maintained but that is not usually the case. There are many factors that can cause potholes, particularly during the winter months when water seeps in through cracks in the road surface, collecting underneath and when the water freezes, it expands and creates cracks in the road surface. Our priority is always the safety of road users, so in some cases during busy periods a permanent repair is not always possible immediately. However, temporary repairs are a way to ensure the area is safe until such times as we can return to make a permanent repair.
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Update
The Highway Officer has carried out an inspection and has identified that there is no immediate safety issues requiring attention, the decision is that no action will be taken at this stage.
The issue will be added to a package of works to be carried out at a later date.
Please note that all our roads are subject to regular Highways Safety Inspections, and all highway safety issues identified are actioned within the timescales set out in our policy.
This report is now closed to updates from the public. You can make a new report in the same location.