We chat to people in Halesowen about investment incoming to help with pot holes.
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00:00Okay, the government or the regional government's announced £204 million investment in fixing
00:08potholes in the West Midlands today.
00:11Nationally, it's going to be an increase of £1.6 billion.
00:15We've got Ben Day here, a motorist from nearby Craigley, we're in Hayles Owen, what do you
00:20think of the general condition of the roads, considering you pay a high tax?
00:25I think they're disgusting, absolutely disgusting, like, there's more got to be done about this.
00:29The vehicles are getting wrecked, left, right and centre, something's got to be done before
00:33it gets too late.
00:35And you've got first-hand experience, we've seen today, do you know of other people who've
00:39been, that have their cars damaged by potholes?
00:43When I was in the store yesterday, two people came in and said that my car's been damaged
00:47by potholes, especially the one on the carpark here today, but again, there's not much they
00:53can do about it, because they're saying that they need funding, but something's got to
00:56be done about it.
00:57Paul, what do you think of the increase of the figures today that are out, obviously
01:01you think, you're probably going to think it's needed.
01:04Definitely needed, 100% needed.
01:06Great, any questions?
01:08We're here in Hayles Owen today, what's your name?
01:11John Mayer.
01:12And you've got an opinion on potholes, haven't you, because you're a driver, let us know
01:17what you think about the investment in fixing them this year.
01:21It's good news, it certainly is doing, I mean, up the road, up there, there's potholes
01:29I have to swear to avoid, so, and also, as you said, the carpark over there, so as far
01:37as I'm concerned, it's all good news.
01:39Yeah, I guess you use that shop as well, or you haven't used that shop, so you notice
01:43the pothole in question.
01:44Yeah, sometimes a driver, like I say, even walking across it, it's dangerous.
01:48Yeah.
01:50Especially that carpark, yes.
01:53What's your name, sir?
01:54Paul.
01:55Paul, same as me.
01:56What's your last name?
01:57Paul, it's nice to meet you.
01:58Okay, thank you.
01:59And you're not a driver, are you, of course?
02:01No, I'm not.
02:02You have got an opinion on the state of the roads and areas off-road, like, we've got
02:09a one-man protest going on over there, but what do you think about the investment in
02:14fixing the potholes that was announced today?
02:17Well, I haven't heard about it.
02:19Right.
02:20Okay, they're going to put a lot more money into fixing potholes.
02:24Have you heard of colleagues, friends, relatives who've had problems with it, or do they complain
02:30about it?
02:31A lot of people do.
02:32Yeah, I've heard a lot of people complain about it, yeah, I've got friends who complain
02:35about it.
02:36Yeah.
02:37All the time, yeah.
02:38Do you use public transport?
02:39I do, yeah.
02:40That can be a bit bumpy, can't it?
02:42Yeah.
02:43My friend drives, and there's some bad potholes up by me, and I get picked up, yeah.
02:50So you'd welcome the investment?
02:52I would, yeah.
02:53Yeah, okay.
02:54Okay, we're here with Oliver Howard, one of the owners of Howard Place Family Business.
02:59How long have you been in business?
03:00We've been in business since 1968.
03:02Wow, that's something, isn't it?
03:04So, but you're a driver yourself.
03:06Yes, I am, yeah.
03:09They've announced today £204 million in the West Midlands investing in fixing potholes,
03:16which over the road we've seen there's a real problem over there with one of the drivers.
03:22Now, you've got experience of dealing with potholes on your premises, haven't you?
03:26Yes, we have, yes.
03:27Over the years, obviously, we've been here since 1968.
03:31It's a constant thing, you know, weather, wear and tear, but it's something you've got
03:35to look after.
03:36At the end of the day, it's a private premise, we're a small business, and to a whole, we
03:40manage it quite well.
03:41So for me, I'd like to think the councils, with the money and the resources that they've
03:45got, should really be doing a bit better at times, really, if I'm honest.
03:49Yeah.
03:50And out and about driving, do you notice problems with potholes?
03:53Well, today, honestly, I've just come down at the top end of our zone.
03:59I've been past, I've just counted 19 potholes, right, some which are quite sizable, you know,
04:05quite big potholes.
04:06A bad road at the minute is Windsor Road, there's a couple of potholes at the bottom
04:10which are quite bad.
04:11And there was the problem, I think it was Islington, and they patched it and patched
04:16it and patched it.
04:17In the end, they've just ended up resurfacing the whole lot, which for me, why they don't
04:21do that sometimes, instead of sticking plasters on, as you can see, we had a bit of an issue
04:25on the floor here.
04:26We actually took the whole strip out and did the whole strip, rather than just doing a
04:31little, you know, tag over, let's say.
04:33Because sometimes it's just not effective and cost effective on money and time.
04:38And having done that yourself, you can appreciate what a big job it is for councils and regional
04:44bodies to repair the roads.
04:47Yeah, I totally agree.
04:48I mean, obviously, these things don't happen overnight, you know, it takes planning, it
04:51takes time, it takes money.
04:53So I do appreciate that sometimes they're there longer than really they should be.
04:57But at the same time, I think sometimes they're a bit negligent when they've had so many reports
05:01and could have done a bit more.
05:03But as a whole, you know, it's an expensive job keeping the roads good.
05:06But for me, it's public people paying money.
05:09They do want to see a good quality service, you know, for what they're paying.
05:15Okay, we appreciate you talking to us today.
05:18Cheers.