Pothole Parade

[Julie in Norfolk]

On the programme "Secrets of the Castle" about experimental archeology and building 13th century castles, the origin of the word pot hole was explained and the explanation was blindingly obvious: in the days when pots were clay, holes were dug to extract clay for making pots! In this part of the country, many houses bear the name Clay Pit cottage.

[David Whipp]

Yes, saw that too, Julie. An interesting programme. Suspect the highways of the 13th century were interesting too!

Assurance from highway manager yesterday that the Kelbrook Road ponding will be sorted out. The headteacher has told me that he commissioned the new stretch of bitmac across the verge. This is to allow pupils access to the school grounds without going on the roadway (or having to walk over the verge); this will be particularly important when demolition of the old art block gets underway soon.

[Stanley]

Lovely word origin Julie and as you say, so obvious.

[David Whipp]

Work underway this week to get rid of the large puddle that covers the pavement at the entrance to the old gas works' yard.



The worn bitmac has been removed exposing the setts underneath and you can make out the concrete channel at the back of the pavement with a gulley next to the wall. A trench is being dug for a new connection to the road drain.

Previously, work was done to sort out the road drains in this area as they were blocked and water spread across the road.

[Stanley]

I haven't been up there for a while but was anything ever done about the misplaced gully grate at the entrance to Letcliffe Park on Manchester Road which doesn't catch the water draining down out of the hill and due to the camber it spreads evenly across the road which is no big problem in summer but in winter, when a sharp frost follows a period of heavy rain creates a sheet of ice for about 50 yards? You have to be there at the right time to see the full effect. Probably why it has never been recognised.

[David Whipp]

There's been quite a bit of work, installing additional gulleys and other drainage work at the top of the widened section of Manchester Road. Whether this is effective remains to be seen...

[David Whipp]

Work was completed yesterday on the pavement at the entrance to the old Gas Works' yard.

Apart from changing the camber. putting a new edging in and replacing missing bitmac, a drain (hidden under the puddle in the before picture below) has been reconnected with the drains in the road. The original pipe had been blocked by the BT box seen at the top of this picture.

[Stanley]

David, I keep forgetting to mention that three of the four large floodlights on the ventral walkway in the Pioneer Car park are AWOL and have been for a couple of weeks now. Luckily the one that sheds light on the steps down from Cooperative Street is the one that has survived. The other two at the Wellhouse Road end are OK.

[David Whipp]

Reported Stanley, thanks.

[Stanley]

[David Whipp]

Good and bad news...



New potholes are developing on Skipton Road...

...the good news is that structural patching is due to be carried out along the full length of the road later this month. (Fingers crossed the weather doesn't freeze the job off...)

A couple of the pots are dangerously deep; I've asked for temporary repairs pending the proper job in a few weeks time.

[Stanley]

I see that potholes are part of the Tory election campaign.....

[David Whipp]

Problems up above today, as one of the old Rediffusion network cables comes adrift from a chimney stack on Frank Street...

[Stanley]

High time all those cables were taken down. It's a disgrace that Rediffusion or their successors were allowed to simply abandon them.
At the junction of Albert Road and the road down the side of Simply Wicked to Back Albert Street there is a post with a light on it that evidently held a sign at some time. The lamp is flickering badly and as far as I can see the post is redundant.
Three of the four lights on the walkway in the Pioneer car park still AWOL.
The light in the Town Square clock is out this morning and I've been forgetting for a few days to report that the bum clock on the bus shelter has gone AWOL again.

[Stanley]

The Town Square clock is lit this morning. The flickering redundant lamp is out completely.

[David Whipp]

Thanks Stanley; which is the flickering lamp?

[Stanley]

It's on a redundant standard on the corner of the access to Back Albert Road next to Simply Wicked. Tight up to the wall on the West side and evidently had a road sign on at some point.

[David Whipp]

Thanks Stanley, realised after posting that that was where you meant; I reported it after your first post.

The county council website has a much improved fault reporting system which I'm using for simple problems. The reported faults are flagged on the map HERE.

The signpost fault is number 34770.

[Stanley]

[Wendyf]

It looks like work is starting on Bleara Road this morning....

[David Whipp]

Thanks Wendy, I did warn them about planning to do the work in the middle of January... hope they manage it without mishap!

[Stanley]

County need a nudge on the three big lights that are AWOL over the central walkway in the Pioneer car park David. No action to date.
Later after my walk. The street lamp that lights Ferndale Avenue on the double standard outside the solicitors was flashing on and off recently but then mended its ways, I thought it had been seen to. However, this morning it's doing it again....

[David Whipp]

Thanks Stanley. The car park lights are Pendle's; I've chased it up...



Fingers crossed, there oughtn't to be any more potholes along Skipton Road when the current work is completed. Patches have been planed out from Ghyll Brow to Bankfield, with resurfacing following on. All being well, the rest of Skipton Road to Gisburn Road will be tackled in the next couple of days.

[Stanley]

Thanks David, nice to see some proper repairs.....

[Stanley]

I think you are quite right to castigate the County on gritting. Bottom line is that they didn't put enough saly on.
The street lamp on Gisburn Road at the end of Damside Cottages on the SW corner is having a funny turn, switching on and off at regular intervals.