New planning applications continue to appear for the WURA area. The WURA committee continue to object to the Council asking for a moratorium on building more flats in Welcomes Road so that a full assessment can be made of the impact on the infrastructure from the current projects. A slowing of the rate of build would also reduce the stress on the existing population. The roads, kerbing and verges are already being damaged by HGV traffic because the roads are too narrow to sustain such traffic.
Some members have suggested that WURA should let the condition of Welcomes Road deteriorate significantly in the hope that it will then become less desirable for developers and the Council. Although at first sight this may seem a possible (if long term) approach, it is important to note the following:
- Should the road surface deteriorate significantly, the first problem likely to be raised would be from the recycling and waste collection company, Veolia. They can refuse to drive up a poorly maintained road and, in fact, have already done so for Zigzag Road before it was resurfaced. This would mean no more collections from the kerbside for all properties on the road.
- Taxi drivers are also within their rights to refuse to drive along a poorly maintained road. Again this has occurred for Zigzag Road residents before the road was resurfaced.
- More seriously, access for ambulances, fire engines and the police could be seriously impaired.
- The road is a public highway despite being privately maintained and is subject to the Highways Acts. For this reason, the Council is empowered to carry out emergency repair work on the road to make it safe and then seek reimbursement from the frontagers.
- The road would become uninsurable and your public liability as a frontager for damage to persons and property would be unlimited.
For these reasons any notion that allowing the road to fall apart should be dismissed and would not be supported by any responsible Road Committee.
Secretary