The winter weather has been tough this year, causing roads to deteriorate with more potholes than usual appearing across our district and across the country.
You may have seen our staff and contractors out on your local roads working tirelessly to ensure that our roads are safe by resurfacing roads and filling potholes that meet the necessary criteria as soon as we're made aware of them.
Since January 2023, 1,062 potholes have been repaired, with 283 of these completed within two hours* as an emergency response.
Last week (w/c 10 April) a total of 46 potholes were repaired over the four-day working week, with 20 of these completed within two hours* as an emergency response.
*Within two hours means our contractors have two hours to repair these high priority potholes from the time our inspector submits the notification.
During the 2022-23 financial year, we spent just over £1 million on pothole repairs. Our team of dedicated highway inspectors carry out safety examinations regularly throughout the district to ensure hazards and defects are reported and repaired; a huge undertaking for both our Highway Maintenance team and our contractor Volker Highways.
We are grateful for the attentiveness of our residents who report a pothole or any other highway defect. Please continue to use our report a problem webpage as it’s very easy and simple to use plus you will receive updates on the issue you have reported.
The UK government’s new Emergency Alerts system is now live and will be tested this Sunday (23). The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger.
It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe flooding.
Emergency Alerts are sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk. They don’t track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.
If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond.
If you receive an alert, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions.
To find out more about Emergency Alerts and how to opt out, visit the Government website.
Flood defence projects planned for Lambourn, Thatcham and Newbury have been boosted by a £6.3 million contribution from the Environment Agency.
The funding, which is a combination of Defra grant and a contribution from Thames Valley Flood and Coastal Committee, will see the completion of the north and east Thatcham flood alleviation projects, which will help to protect 110 properties. It will also enable the design of a flood alleviation scheme for the Memorial Fields in Thatcham, which will be delivered in 2024/25 to protect a further 180 Thatcham homes.
Project Groundwater supports communities to be more resilient to groundwater flooding. The six-year programme is working with communities in 9 high-risk flood areas of the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs. It is led by Buckinghamshire Council in partnership with five other local authorities and Flood Community Groups.
Lambourn Valley and Pang Valley in West Berkshire are included in the pilot where the project will gather local knowledge about floods and look at developing solutions on the ground, to ensure residents are better prepared for groundwater flooding. Findings from the project could benefit hundreds of communities and thousands of properties at risk of groundwater flooding across the region. The project's findings will also support a national understanding of how to manage groundwater flooding.
If you visit or live in the pilot areas, read more by clicking on the button below.
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