I recently wrote to Glasgow Council Land Services to complain about some road works that had been left unfinished for over a month.
I’ve developed something of a bee in my bonnet about sloppy work (I’ve complained previously, when in London, and intend to soon write about the deplorable state of road lane markings in Glasgow). Whilst the road had barely any interruption (despite being involved in the works), the pavement - right next to a bus shelter - was in a very poor state, with a temporary cover over a shallow, but wide, hole. So there’s no doubt in my mind about the priorities the council shows when it comes to road users.
So, my letter would have been received on Wednesday. Today, the pavement has kind of been repaired. I say kind of: it’s been filled in but not sealed, and the “workman ahead” signs are still strewn about the place (nearby residents are forever picking them up from when the wind moves them, and putting them by the side of the pavement).
Whether or not my letter actually achieved anything (and the state of “finishing” makes me thing it’s a temporary patch at best), I’m now left with this impression of a petulant council reluctantly “finishing” a piece of work. Given how poorly the tarmac has been sealed in, a good Scottish winter and I’m sure they’ll be back to fix it again, rather than doing it properly in the first place a month ago when the works completed. Good to see where the council tax is being spent.
Still, at least I feel much the better for having raised the issue (rather than just idly walking past and ignoring it). Yet I fear I may be turning into something of a bitter old man complaining about everything to everybody. I suspect friends and relatives have known that for some time…
My local councillor, Iris Gibson might soon discover this herself. I understand council elections are due in May, and it’s funny how attentive councillors get to the issues upsetting ward residents 
Quite what a Scottish National Party member will make of a bitter and twisted Englishman moaning about the state of the roads in her ward, I don’t know.
July 17th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
I’ve also complained to Falkirk Council about the state of their footpaths and the general dirt and debris, including council street works signs just left lying around. Seven pensioners have tripped and fallen on one particular short stretch of road.The council’s response was that they had no record of these accidents! Now thay have repaired all the roads and footpaths in that area, including cul-de-sacs where very few people walk, but the main foot path where people have fallen they have left untouched.
Now Falkirk has been named as the dirtiest town in Scotland where detritus is concerned.
You couldn’t make it up.
February 24th, 2007 at 11:40 am
[...] So perhaps that’s my overriding objective: To make sure the council has a full representation of views. I’m also deeply cynical about the two year freeze in council tax we’ve had. Welcome for sure, but leaves me deeply suspicious of the controlling Labour administration simply playing politics. The council tax is already higher than I ever paid in London, and whilst water-rates do get included in the figure we have an eye-watering £2,200 to pay each year: A bitter pill to swallow when I’m very uncertain the council actually does a particularly efficient job (unless it involves putting bollards around a hole in the ground and ignoring it for six weeks; Then they’re very good), and I’m suspicious it’ll go up in the next few years - above inflation - before freezing again before the next election. [...]
July 10th, 2007 at 10:20 am
[...] Once more unto the breach!, and once more we do battle with Glasgow council and associated hole-digging/cone-placing cohorts. [...]