Roads are like ‘pothole alley’ says Wisbech man who refuses to pay Council Tax

A Wisbech man has refused to pay his Council Tax because he feels local authorities are failing to deliver the services promised. Wayne Cook has faced prosecution over failure to pay the money which is collected by Fenland District Council on behalf of all the authorities including Cambridgeshire County Council, the police and fire services, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. But he questions why people are paying for a service that he says is not up to scratch.

The potholes like this one on roads in the St Michael's Avenue area have been there for over three years - this picture was taken in 2020.

In a bid to prove his point, he has been out taking photos of footpaths and roads in and around his hometown to show there has been little or no improvement in the past three years.

Wayne claims the roads and pavements are so bad in some areas, they are an accident waiting to happen.

"We all have to live with health and safety and follow the rules, but the council doesn't seem to be worried about it as they have left the footpaths and roads in a really bad state, and they are dangerous," said Wayne.

This is the same area of St Michael's Avenue taken last week.

He continued: "The roads around the area where I live near the Oasis Centre are basically pothole alley. As drivers, we have to make sure our cars and vehicles are safe and legal to be on the road. But the local council doesn't seem to worry about making the roads safe for us to drive on.

"I would really like to know where all the money we pay goes as it doesn't seem to be spent on the roads in our area. It's really a joke just how bad the roads and pavements are. They are not safe for people to use.

"I have not paid my Council Tax and they have taken me to court, but I don't see why I should pay for something, that I don't believe is being delivered. I know there are other people around the country including in Yorkshire who believe the same as me and have refused to pay Council Tax.

Footpaths have been labeled dangerous by Wayne.

"In fact, I think everyone should stop paying it, or only pay some of it until we start getting the services we are promised. I took photos of potholes in my area three years ago and most of them are still there and are now worse than they were before.

It is not good enough and I think we need to send a message to the local councils."

The road as it was three years ago - little has changed.

The same stretch of road with the poor road surface that was captured on camera three years ago.

The potholes like this one on roads in the St Michael's Avenue area have been there for over three years - this picture was taken in 2020.

Footpaths have been labeled dangerous by Wayne.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: "In the past month, we have ordered and repaired 36 potholes in St Michael's Avenue, Wisbech. "Highways maintenance is a top priority of the council, and we're working hard to prevent potholes. As part of our budget proposals for next year, it includes prioritising investment of GBP23m into making highways, footpaths, and cycleways safer - on top of a recently announced government allocation of an additional GBP2.3m.

This will be to deliver improvements which both repair and prevent potholes, deliver improved drainage schemes, and reinstate cycleway maintenance and weed clearance.

"We'd urge people to continue reporting any potholes or highway faults using our online tool.

It's easy to use and flags any faults which have not yet been marked on the council's website."

Fenland District Council was also asked to comment but have not responded.