Letter: Look At The Little Yellow Line They’ve Painted In My Road!

Published on: 12 Jan, 2018
Updated on: 12 Jan, 2018

From Derek Carley

The attached photo and communication I have had from Surrey Highways below must be worthy of a feature on The Guildford Dragon NEWS or a competition for the most absurd piece of work undertaken by Surrey County Council’s highway department to date, all at the expense of the council taxpayer.

The newly painted yellow line in Beech Lane, Guildown, Guildford. Click to enlarge in a new window.

A brief background – following completion of a pot hole repair before Christmas outside my property in Beech Lane, Guildown, ( yes I know I am very lucky) the highways team confirmed they would make good the yellow line marking.

Now you and I would understand that with a severely fragmented yellow line as the result of piecemeal pot hole repairs over a number of years this would result in a one off repair to make the yellow line whole and viable as a yellow line.

The photo shows the repair undertaken by the contractor today (Wednesday, January 10), a 1m strip of yellow line that is unconnected either end to the other broken parts of the yellow line.

It beggars belief that the highways team’s customer service manager then has the stupidity to send the communication below:

Dear Customer

Thank you for your recent report.

Reference number: SQ-1029266-2
Location: BEECH LANE, GUILDFORD
Details: Carriageway Defect – Reg markings faded/worn

I am pleased to advise you that the works have now been completed.

Regards

Mike Dawson
Customer Services and Improvement Manager

I will be copying this to my councillor and the Mayor of Guildford, as this appalling squandering of resources and mismanagement by highways and Surrey County Council needs to highlighted and rectified.

Responses to Letter: Look At The Little Yellow Line They’ve Painted In My Road!

Martin Elliott Reply

January 12, 2018 at 7:40 pm

It’s a common problem that SCC doesn’t seem to show common sense.

If you pursue a sensible dialogue (your side only) you will get all sorts of irrelevant justifications and assurances that it’s ‘safe’. Then they will say it meets standards, but quoting / linking totally irrelevant standards.

It’s disappointing on two levels. As a professional engineer, I audited many quality management schemes and prestigious engineering projects (ie CTRL). I never got a runaround like SCC Highways.

We use to be assured in press releases, though they are now less frequent, from SCC councilors, that the Project Horizon contracts (one contractor left) were good value for money and delivered good quality work.

My experience with one local repair is poor quality work, no justification of compliance, in three months’ dialogue.

I’ve now involved the local SCC councilor and Burpham Community Association. It’s rediculous.
John Lomas Reply

January 13, 2018 at 9:36 am

It is obvious that the lines are currently unenforceable.

You should refer Mr Dawson to:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223667/traffic-signs-manual-chapter-05.pdf

Section 20 starts at page 116 and Section 23; subsection 21 to 26 pp 144/145.
Paul Robinson Reply

January 13, 2018 at 12:35 pm

No surprise here. I’ve seen them repair a couple of potholes and left the other adjacent three or four, come back a couple of weeks later, repair another one to two, then come after another couple of weeks to finish the job.
Jules Cranwell Reply

January 16, 2018 at 9:00 pm

I’ve been through this in my manor. They require a report with photos, and accompanying yardstick, per pothole, from the public. If there’s another pothole right beside, it is ignored. Why is this my problem?

Also, they send one crew to survey the hole, who draw an outline in yellow, then send another crew to effect the repair. Crazy!