Ipswich: Petition submitted to fix 'embarrassing' roads

A petition, signed by residents, has been sent to Suffolk County Council calling for it to fix and permanently repair the roads that have been neglected.

These four roads, include Chesterton Close, Newnham Court, Girton Way and Cambridge Drive.

Tony Blacker at one of the roads, that was fixed last week. Credit: Tony Blacker (Image: Tony Blacker)

The petition has been put forward by Ipswich Borough councillor, Tony Blacker, who is the ward councillor for Stoke Park.

He said: "The state of those four roads is embarrassing. That's the only way I can describe it.

"It doesn't feel like we are in a developed country.

Newnham Court roads. Credit: Tony Blacker (Image: Tony Blacker)

"It feels as though the people who hold the purse strings for fixing roads, don't actually know these roads exist, because it doesn't affect them, it doesn't get any attention.

"All roads require complete resurfacing, and they have been neglected by Suffolk County Council for far too long."

Mr Blacker went door-knocking around the streets and got together over 150 signatures from those wanting the roads to be fixed.

The road on Chesterton Close was fixed on June 12, with the picture on the right showing what it looks like on June 29. Credit: Tony Blacker (Image: Tony Blacker)

Repairs were made to Chesterton Close recently, however, when Mr Blacker went back a week later, some of the work had already been chipped away and was failing.

He continued: "The frustration is they keep spending money on roads, but they are spending it badly.

"They put money in to do bad jobs when they could spend it on doing a good job that would last longer.

The road at Newnham Court. Credit: Tony Blacker (Image: Tony Blacker)

"I know all local authorities have restricted budgets, and I know we can't do everything we want to do, but I feel like these roads, in particular, have been left for far too long and something needs to be done."

Suffolk County Council was approached for comment.