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| Potholed Wisbech street is 'like an air force bombing run' | Potholed Wisbech street is 'like an air force bombing run' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Glen Hindmarsh works in a car accessory shop on Wesenham Lane and says drivers are constantly coming in for spare parts after hitting potholes | Glen Hindmarsh works in a car accessory shop on Wesenham Lane and says drivers are constantly coming in for spare parts after hitting potholes |
| A street through a Fenland town has been compared to "an air force bombing run" because of potholes and its state of disrepair. | A street through a Fenland town has been compared to "an air force bombing run" because of potholes and its state of disrepair. |
| Locals using Weasenham Lane in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, say the road is blighted with potholes "as big as dinner plates". | Locals using Weasenham Lane in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, say the road is blighted with potholes "as big as dinner plates". |
| In its annual Local Authority Road Maintenance report, the Asphalt Industry Alliance said £2.1bn was needed in the East of England alone to deal with a 30-year backlog of repairs. | In its annual Local Authority Road Maintenance report, the Asphalt Industry Alliance said £2.1bn was needed in the East of England alone to deal with a 30-year backlog of repairs. |
| Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to invest £59m into highway maintenance for 2025/2026 - but added that the county's roads needed £400m to address all the issues. | Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to invest £59m into highway maintenance for 2025/2026 - but added that the county's roads needed £400m to address all the issues. |
| Some residents have been saying that the potholes on Weasenham Lane are "as big as dinner plates". | Some residents have been saying that the potholes on Weasenham Lane are "as big as dinner plates". |
| Glen Hindmarsh, 61, has lived near Weasenham Lane for 25 years and says he is surprised the potholes have not caused a serious accident. | Glen Hindmarsh, 61, has lived near Weasenham Lane for 25 years and says he is surprised the potholes have not caused a serious accident. |
| "Over the past six months the road has looked like a bombing run for the local air force," he said. | "Over the past six months the road has looked like a bombing run for the local air force," he said. |
| He added that despite work to fill in potholes, many "bomb-sized craters" remained on a bend further along the stretch. | He added that despite work to fill in potholes, many "bomb-sized craters" remained on a bend further along the stretch. |
| Helen Arnold commutes via Weasenham Lane and says it is difficult to navigate the potholes when it is dark or raining | Helen Arnold commutes via Weasenham Lane and says it is difficult to navigate the potholes when it is dark or raining |
| Helen Arnold, 56, uses Weasenham Lane when she commutes to work and says it is always difficult to negotiate the potholes as some are in groups across the carriageway. | Helen Arnold, 56, uses Weasenham Lane when she commutes to work and says it is always difficult to negotiate the potholes as some are in groups across the carriageway. |
| "It doesn't do my car much good when I hit one," she said. | "It doesn't do my car much good when I hit one," she said. |
| Ms Arnold has worked in the area for four years and regularly sees potholes and surfaces being repaired. | Ms Arnold has worked in the area for four years and regularly sees potholes and surfaces being repaired. |
| She said the council appeared to prioritise fitting speed cameras on the A47 from King's Lynn over pothole repairs. | She said the council appeared to prioritise fitting speed cameras on the A47 from King's Lynn over pothole repairs. |
| Martin Reynolds, 62, who lives close to a cluster of large potholes, says he finds it difficult to sleep at night because of the noise, and that he fears for the safety of cyclists and motorcyclists. | Martin Reynolds, 62, who lives close to a cluster of large potholes, says he finds it difficult to sleep at night because of the noise, and that he fears for the safety of cyclists and motorcyclists. |
| Martin Reynolds lives near a cluster of large potholes on Weasenham Lane and says vehicles have mounted the pavement to avoid them | Martin Reynolds lives near a cluster of large potholes on Weasenham Lane and says vehicles have mounted the pavement to avoid them |
| David Giles, chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, said the government claimed it would provide £72m for pavement and pothole repairs, but "it is just not enough". | David Giles, chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, said the government claimed it would provide £72m for pavement and pothole repairs, but "it is just not enough". |
| "In the East, £2.1bn is needed, which is an incredible sum," he said. | "In the East, £2.1bn is needed, which is an incredible sum," he said. |
| "We are asking for £2bn immediately, otherwise we will just be managing the decline of our local roadways," he said. | "We are asking for £2bn immediately, otherwise we will just be managing the decline of our local roadways," he said. |
| "Therefore we are calling for a complete change in mindset for short-term funding to longer-term commitments to allow authorities to improve the network." | "Therefore we are calling for a complete change in mindset for short-term funding to longer-term commitments to allow authorities to improve the network." |
| A county council spokesperson said: "We began work filling potholes on Weasenham Lane in Wisbech, last Saturday. | |
| "Due to the volume of traffic and proportion of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on this road, the repairs are being made at night over the weekend in order to minimise disruption. | |
| "We will be returning to complete the works this Saturday (22 March)." | |
| Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |