Majority of the roads leading to and from Estcourt are pitted with potholes. It’s certainly nothing new but roused frustration recently. Two local businessmen are up in arms on the matter.
The dreaded holes are damaging vehicles and pose a hazard to motorists and pedestrians. Both men commented on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised.
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“If anyone has to hit these huge potholes and there are cars in the oncoming lane, there will most definitely be damage to the vehicle. We want some answers as to when roads will be repaired,” demanded a Connor Street businessman.
Sadly, there has been no improvement despite his countless complaints. Another Lorne Street businessman said: “Some potholes have been left neglected for years. If nothing is done, each local should submit their photos to the Estcourt News stating how long the unrepaired pothole has been on the road,” he suggested.
He added that instead of playing the blame game, the municipality should thoroughly repair all the potholes and file for reimbursement from the relevant department or neighbouring municipality responsible for creating the pothole by digging up the road surface.
A fairly new pothole has made an appearance along Hellet Road. Making one’s way to this road, a number of drivers are seen dodging this widening pothole.
One motorist who noticed a man doing a driver’s licence test was heard saying “it’s difficult to learn how to drive when you have to learn how to avoid potholes as well.”
The Lorne Street businessman suggests that every pothole within a certain radius to the municipal building be given a repair timeframe, failure to adhere to this must result in the sterner action taking place.
“We are tired of bearing the brunt of laziness or whatever the excuses are. We don’t make excuses when it’s time to pay our rates,” he concluded with fury.
Meanwhile, it is advised that you become accustomed to navigating potholes until the residents’ outcry for urgent help is finally heard.
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The municipality has on several occasions been asked to reveal their pothole repair plan and the dates that residents can expect to see changes. While targeted areas have been penned on paper, work on the ground is slow.
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