North London good for potholes, bad for litter - AA survey

A survey conducted by the AA using

the observations of 1,912 of its members has found that North London

has the second fewest potholes in the UK. The happy results found that

postcodes in North London ranked second behind only West London for

potholes 6" or more in diameter counted by volunteers.

Potholes

were one of the concerns most frequently raised by road users across

the UK - and with good reason, as unpatched potholes can cause damage

to a car's tyres, axles or suspension. Repairs to vehicles damaged by

potholes is estimated to cost £2.8billion in the UK every year

according to potholes.co.uk.

90% of the AA responsdents rated potholes in their top 5 lists of

concerns, with over 50% rating potholes their most serious worry on the

roads.

The survey looked at a range of issues, from

roadmarks, uneven footpaths and unpatched utility trenches to litter,

dog fouling and overgrown hedges. Londoners can feel pleased that their

region appears to be top of the charts for pothole repairs, but uneven

pathways and litter are bigger problems for our locality, with London

North West being named in the top three worst offenders in each

category.

Survey respondents also reported a variety of

other concerning street issues, including flooding, low-hanging trees,

unevenly-sized speed humps, dangerous parking and unregistered skips.

AA president Edmund King says, "We shall share the

results with local highway authorities to support our campaign for more

investment in local streets and paths – neglect of these areas has a

significant impact on how people feel about where they live. The surveys will also

provide a regular benchmark of community issues in the light of local

authority budget cut backs."

The next AA Streetwatch week will take place in April, and all AA members will be invited to take part.

Image: Alan Stanton