'It's like driving on roads in a third world country'

A VILLAGE near Henley is suffering ongoing issues with potholes, reminiscent of a “third-world country”.

People in Checkendon have voiced frustration at the number of “dangerous” potholes on their roads.

Jennifer Greenbury owns Checkendon Equestrian Centre, in Lovegrove’s Lane, with her husband, Toby.

The couple have lived in the village since the nineties, and Mrs Greenbury said potholes have been an issue for both the business and the village for years.

She said: “The potholes have got so dangerous that people can’t even get down the road to us without damaging their car. You have to be so careful, you have to remember where they are. These potholes have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“I don’t think they’ve ever been this bad before. Our road has been patched up now and again over the past few years, because there obviously isn’t enough money for the council to do a proper road resurface.”

Mrs Greenbury told of how a member of her staff at the centre has had three tyre replacements due to attempting to navigate the potholes in Lovegrove’s Lane on her way to and from work.

She said: “It’s not only on Lovegrove’s Lane where there are potholes, but access to Checkendon Equestrian Centre is completely impossible at the moment.”

The business owner said she has written to Oxfordshire County Council and reported the “outrageous” potholes on FixMyStreet but has had no response.

She added: “We don’t know if the council intends to repair them because they don’t communicate with us. The council has definitely had complaints, not only from me.

“Nothing is being done, or at least, there is no belief that anything will be done anytime soon. There is a communication problem. But the potholes, they really hamper business.”

Mrs Greenbury said the roads in Checkendon make her feel like she is living in a “third-world country”.

She said: “The mood here is very pessimistic, especially with the weather as well, which is nobody’s fault, but the rain and potholes together for Checkendon just means it gets worse and worse.

“I think it’s important for the council to write to residents or to parishes and ask them to spread the news that they are going to be dealing with our particular streets on a certain date and letting us know that they’re aware of the problem.”

Checkendon resident Amanda Stewart, who works as a features writer, said the state of the roads had been a long-running issue in the area and led to her reconsidering what type of car she drives.

She said: “The potholes cracked the wheels on my old car about a year ago when I was trying to leave the village. I had to replace all four, which cost me about £2,500. You have to think about your car and what you drive, in case it can’t cope with the potholes. The potholes have changed my whole way of life.”

She added: “Whenever I leave my house, and need to go towards Sonning Common, I always have to go the long way around, which isn’t very green or economical. And I have to use muscle memory to remember where they are, otherwise I get a flat tyre.”

A spokesman for the county council said: “Issues with potholes and road defects are evident all over England after an exceptionally wet, and sometimes cold, winter. Rainfall levels have been way above average.

“Additional teams and resources are being made available to repair potholes on Oxfordshire’s roads. We have more than doubled the number of repair crews in recent weeks.

“Our highways team work very hard in all weathers and conditions to maintain the 3,000 miles of road for which we are responsible.

“We know how important the condition of our highways is for our residents, which is why we are taking positive action.”