Website to name and shame

LOCAL authorities that fail to repair dangerous potholes on roads throughout the country face the prospect of being named and shamed by the online campaign potholes.ie.

In response to the damage caused by the January freeze, www.ripoffireland.org founder David Wall set up a website to address the need for vital maintenance of the road network.

As part of the independent www.potholes.ie campaign, anyone affected by pothole damage is urged to log on to the website and report details of their complaint.

This information is then sent immediately to participating city and county councils who will be asked to repair the damage.

Speaking when the site was launched, Mr Wall said he hoped local authorities would react quickly and repair the damage.

However, if they failed to fix the potholes, they would be named and shamed on the website.

“People are delighted to have somewhere where they can actually report their potholes and have their say.

“We also have a reporting system, so it will automatically send the details to the councils.

“If they still don’t fix the potholes the website will show that,” he said.

As to whether or not local authorities pay any attention to the website is another matter entirely.

Judging by one response from a borough council, Mr Wall’s website is viewed as something of an annoyance.

“After emailing all the councils in Ireland about the site with a hope of getting some co-operation and input we got the following email from one local authority with the blunt message,” said Mr Wall.

“This website has no official status and we will not be contributing. You need not send on any further correspondence. Thank you,” said the message.

Ireland is not alone, however, in having to deal with the scourge of potholes.

In Britain, cash strapped councils have adopted new guidelines and have redefined the size of the potholes they are obliged to fill.

More than 20 local authorities are cutting road maintenance bills by refusing to repair potholes less than 4cm deep.

The redefinition came ahead of a survey of Britain’s roads, which showed local authorities were facing a shortfall of more than £1 billion as they attempt to fill in a staggering one million potholes a year.