‘Councillor must know how appalling our roads are’

I do wish the WSCC cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, councillor Roger Elkins, would not offer himself for criticism quite so often.

Recently he was singing the praises of the new, totally inadequate Billingshurst Eastern Link Road and then in the County Times (February 4), it was the turn of his own highways department and their contractors and the wonderful job they are all doing maintaining our roads.

Anybody who ever drives in West Sussex will know only too well how appalling our roads are and if councillor Elkins truly believes that throwing a shovel full of bitumen coated grit into a pothole is a satisfactory repair, then he is in charge of the wrong department.

Yes, I can admit to knowing one small section of road that has recently been properly repaired, namely on the A29 at North Heath, but go further south to Pulborough and the A29 is full of potholes, sunken and uneven manholes and the bridge over the Arun is a disgrace.

Then there is the total lack of supervision of the housebuilders, their contractors and utilities.

Billingshurst used to have a very good western bypass, but the council allowed it to be dug up for a new drain for the east of Billingshurst development.

Why the drain wasn’t put in the verge is beyond most people, perhaps because of other services, but the road was never put back evenly and is now getting worse as it settles.

I would happily take councillor Elkins around this area, Covid restrictions permitting, and show him how bad our roads and footpaths truly are, but I’m sure in truth he actually knows.