Shawhead residents demand road repairs

Jul 29 2009 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

A FURIOUS driver has started a petition demanding road improvements after badly damaging her car by falling foul of a huge pothole.

Helen McGuire broke springs on her vehicle, which was then off the road for five days, when its front end “collapsed” into a rough, sunken section of Carfin Street in Shawhead.

She was especially infuriated because the incident was caused when she hit one pothole after swerving to avoid another, and says that the poor road surface is a more serious accident waiting to happen.

Now she has collected more than 50 signatures from neighbouring residents calling for urgent work on the condition of roads in both that area and nearby Whifflet.

Helen, of Burleigh Street, said: “That street is an absolute disgrace; I was using my mother’s car and it couldn’t be driven afterwards as the front end was broken, there were springs lying in the road and I had to be towed home.

“The bonnet of the car was well down into the ground and I knew straight away that the damage would be serious; two passers-by came to my aid and although I fortunately wasn’t hurt, I’m really angry.

“It happened because I was having to weave in and out between a series of potholes along the street, and it’s been like that as long as anybody can remember.

“The fact that people are being forced onto the wrong side of the road is going to cause a serious accident – the condition of the road is putting lives at risk.

“I went door-to-door in the area and collected opinions from residents; not one person refused to sign as they’re all going ballistic.

“Everyone agrees that it’s a total disgrace and something must be done as soon as possible – what else are we paying our council and road tax for?”

Among the comments on Helen’s petition are those from three angry residents who have variously broken springs, damaged steering and burst a tyre in similar circumstances due to the potholes.

Fed-up residents have also described Carfin Street and neighbouring roads as “scandalous”, “disgraceful” and “like an obstacle course”.

North Lanarkshire Council say that short-term repairs are now taking place – and have confirmed that resurfacing work on the troublesome street is due to begin next month.

David Smart, the council’s roads operations business manager, said: “The last contact we had regarding potholes on Carfin Street was in April and repairs were done at that time.

“A recent safety inspection of the road showed that more work was needed, and temporary repairs are now being put in place.

“Carfin Street is also part of a larger resurfacing programme taking place in the current financial year, and work is expected to start on this road in August.

“Potholes and all other road problems can be reported to the council through Northline, our customer contact centre, on 01698 403110.”