Are Derby’s roads safe? Drivers and cyclists speak out

Residents have hit out at plans to allow 400 new homes next to the A52. Image by LDRS.

Drivers and cyclists believe the state of Derby’s roads needs to improve despite city bosses stating they are “safe”.

One Derby motorist called the condition of some of the city’s roads “absolutely dreadful” when responding to the council’s recent statement.

Earlier this week Derby City Council highways chiefs said its road surfaces “remain safe” despite data showing it was falling short on some pothole targets.

The statement came as it was revealed the council had paid out more than £4,400 in compensation to a Porsche driver after a pothole caused vehicle damage on Chequers Road.

Data showed the council fixed more than 1,200 road defects within 14 days or 28 days – after being notified – between January and February this year.

The council said poor winter weather and Storm Goretti had caused defects on Derby’s roads.

Data also showed that, during some stage over the winter, road damage repaired within 28 days was at 32 per cent – significantly below a monthly target of 80 per cent.

But the council says 99 per cent of emergency defects are responded to within the 1-hour and 36-hour thresholds.

A spokesperson for Derby City Council said: “Derby’s roads remain safe. We carry out regular routine inspections and any defects identified as requiring immediate attention are made safe as a priority.

“External factors, namely poor winter weather, have been a significant driver in an increase in road defects.

“While no highway network is entirely free from defects, we respond promptly to issues that meet our intervention criteria and continue to invest in ongoing maintenance and improvement schemes across the city.”

A Derby taxi driver agreed with the council’s statement and felt roads were improving.

Fazal Hussain, who picks up passengers in Derby daily, said:  “I think the council are improving the roads.

“The council is doing a good job – if they see it or its reported they can rectify it and sort it out.”

But some disputed the council’s statement.

Michael Rowlands, owner of a city taxi firm, said there are “too many potholes that are unnoticed”.

He said: “I don’t think the roads are safe.

“It’s not just the hole itself but the quick-fixes can also cause problems.

“You get a quick fix but they just seem to fall apart quite quickly. But I think staff at the city council do a very good job.”

Cyclists also have raised concern about the state of Derby’s roads.

Duffield Road resident Rod Straw is both a cyclist and a motorist who regularly uses Derby’s roads.

He said: “I don’t think Derby’s roads are any worse than anybody else’s.

“As a cyclist, trying to avoid a pothole can put you in extreme danger. There are ones in Derby where this happens.

“But as a car driver the roads are absolutely dreadful. The car becomes noisy because of the unsatisfactory road surface. I think we are a third-world country when we look at our roads system.”

But Tony Roelich from the Derby Cycling Group believed other places have the same issues as Derby.

He said: “I’ve been to places where roads are not a lot worse than Derby but there are specific places where the roads are quite dangerous.

“Any pothole on the cycling can be quite catastrophic for a cyclist.”