I NOTICED with interest that the council decided it was about time Studlands Rise – one of the busiest estate roads in Royston – should have a long overdue pot-hole make-over. Although no structural engineer or road-builder, I have observed that over time

I NOTICED with interest that the council decided it was about time Studlands Rise - one of the busiest estate roads in Royston - should have a long overdue pot-hole make-over.

Although no structural engineer or road-builder, I have observed that over time the crown of the road in many places between Newmarket Road and Studlands Rise School has started to crumble.

The most visible signs of which are the many pot-holes and, in some places, the actual "sinking" of areas of the crown.

I have noticed that the driving experience on Studlands Rise was becoming increasingly uncomfortable due to the ever-widening pot-holes, so you might well imagine my unbridled joy at the council deciding to take action. The first signs were the discreet spray-paint markings which appeared over the surface of the road.

My joy soon changed to puzzlement and then to dismay when I realised that the markings were only indicating the pot-holes - and not the cause of the problem.

Oh no, I thought, this road already looks like a patchwork quilt. It does not need the pot-holes being filled, it needs properly re-surfacing.

In the space of a day the council came and went, having patched up the road.

All well and good, except that everyone knows that patching pot-holes could be considered to be a false economy, especially where a road's actual structure appears to need attention.

In my opinion it would have been more cost-effective for the council to "bite the bullet" and properly re-surface the road this summer, rather than yet again patching it up.

I appreciate that times are hard, but I don't consider the current solution to the pot-holes in Studlands Rise to be financially sound.

It certainly is the cheaper and quicker solution, but it is only a temporary fix.

It does not sort out the sinking that is taking place and in the not-too-distant future the road will have to be completely re-surfaced.

Still, at least the council has got one thing right. It has finally painted double-yellow lines down parts of Newmarket Road.

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