Calls for action on battered A53 as motorists cough up ‘hundreds’ on new tyres

Calls have been made for 'urgent repairs' and a 'major investment' on a busy stretch of road that fed-up residents claim has destroyed hundreds of pounds worth of tyres. It comes as yet another grid has sunk on the A53 in Stockton Brook ^[1] where motorists have long bemoaned the state of the road.

Now community leaders and residents want to see a permanent fix to the problem around both disintegrating gullies, rickety manhole covers and flooding on the well-used road. Meanwhile highways officials at the city council have pointed to grids being in the crosshairs of the HGVs that regularly use Leek New Road as the surrounds of yet another grid has fallen to pieces.

The state of road has been put into focus again after a grid close to the Nursery Avenue/Bunts Lane junction sank leaving motorists dodging the hole. As reported by StokeonTrentLive ^[2] that particular section flooded twice in five days following rainfall in what has represented another issue on the troubled route.

READ: Police find 34,450 packets of foreign fags worth £137k in back of van | Staffordshire Police made the discovery on Davis Street, in Shelton ^[3]

READ: All 34 pothole-riddled Staffordshire roads to be repaired - full list | Staffordshire County Council is planning to spend around £27.5m on the schemes as part of its updated highways programme ^[4]

Just last month and temporary lights went up near Shaldon Avenue ^[5] due to a 'dangerous manhole cover'. On that occasion the issue was reported to Severn Trent Water who was responsible for the cover.

This manhole cover collapsed on Leek New Road in February

StokeonTrentLive had shared an image of the broken up gully on our Facebook page - while days later Stoke-on-Trent City Council put cones out around the grid. Resident Corey Holden says when repairs are done in the area they don't last - and he believes motorists have been forced to shell out for replacement tyres after hitting some of the defects.

The 28-year-old, who lives in Stockton Brook, said: "I have reported several potholes/sunken manholes and gulleys across this section of the A53 since January and only two have been repaired to date.

"The quality of repairs are poor and I know many people who have had to pay out hundreds for replacement tyres yet the highways department continue to ignore the fact that urgent repairs are needed to this road."

The grid has been left underwater as a temporary fix has been carried out

Corey says because drivers attempt to dodge the craters there could be a serious smash in the area. He said: "You often see traffic having to verge into oncoming traffic to avoid the potholes particularly on this stretch of road - it’s an accident waiting to happen."

Corey has also noted flooding now blighting the stretch. He added: "It feels as though the local highways system is in need of a drastic management review and a lack of funding cannot keep being used as a reason for having major roads in such a poor state as lack of quality control is also a contributing factor."

Leek New Road flooded in Stockton Brook

Ward councillor Dave Evans says the repair jobs have become the equivalent of whack-a-mole - where after one fix is done another is found. He told StokeonTrentLive: "Every year we see the grids collapse and every year they come out and fix them. People don't care if it's a council issue or something for utility companies - they just want the problem addressing, as do I.

"This part of the A53 is now starting to flood and it's just becoming a farce. This road, like others, are crumbling.

"There had been flooding on nearby Bunts Lane and once that was fixed the problem has now shifted to Leek New Road. The problems on this part of the A53 needs investment and a permanent fix. This isn't about just one gully, but the drainage system as a whole in this area."

Leek New Road through Stockton Brook

Stoke-on-Trent City Council ^[6] has said temporary fixes have been carried out - and officials are reviewing what else can be done. A spokesperson said: "Our teams are monitoring this stretch of road. Last night (March 18), temporary fixes were completed around affected gullies.

"We are reviewing what additional work we can do to ensure a longer-term fix is in place, as evidence shows the ironworks are all in the HGV tracks, and given the weight and the volume of those vehicles, that is contributing to them failing more quickly."

References

^{^} Stockton Brook (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} As reported by StokeonTrentLive (%20https)
^{^} Police find 34,450 packets of foreign fags worth £137k in back of van | Staffordshire Police made the discovery on Davis Street, in Shelton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} All 34 pothole-riddled Staffordshire roads to be repaired - full list | Staffordshire County Council is planning to spend around £27.5m on the schemes as part of its updated highways programme (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Just last month and temporary lights went up near Shaldon Avenue (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Stoke-on-Trent City Council (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
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