A hole has opened up in the road on a busy bus route and shopping street less than two months after it was resurfaced.
Yesterday (Saturday 10 January), one of the ward councillors for the area posted pictures on social media of the fenced off hole in Portland Road, Hove.
And one of her Labour colleagues on Brighton and Hove City Council said that it had been “assessed as a priority” for repair.
The hole appeared in Portland Road, close to the corner of Reynolds Road, having been resurfaced in mid to late November.
Councillor Sam Parrott, who represents Westbourne and Poets’ Corner ward, wrote: “Out and about in the ward this morning and have seen the ‘hole’ that has appeared in Portland Road.
“It’s been reported and Councillor Trevor Muten is aware and chasing a solution. Please drive safely.”
Councillor Muten, the council’s cabinet member for transport, replied: “Thanks Councillor Sam Parrott. This has been reported, temporary barrier in place and being assessed as a priority. Updates to follow.”
On Monday 24 November, Councillor Muten posted on Facebook: “Second week of resurfacing works in Portland Road between Bolsover Road and Sackville Road.
“Started Monday 17 November due to complete by Friday 28 November 2025.
“The condition of this busy road has deteriorated, with many potholes, hazards and service scars.
“Residents and businesses have been calling for this to be fixed and that’s exactly what we are doing. Getting it fixed. Getting it done.
“With more government grant funding this year, we (are) getting on and fixing more roads including Portland Road, Hove.
“Thanks to residents for their patience as we improve this road and bus route.
“Thanks too to Brighton and Hove City Council officers and FM Conway contractors working overnight to minimise disruption.”
The council’s budget for road repairs is just enough for maintenance, their report last year allocated somewhere around £8 million but the officers’ report noted that “it is not enough to resolve the maintenance burden. We estimated there is a backlog of £57m for roads and £39m for footways. To prevent further decline of these assets alone we would need an estimated annual budget of £8.45m”
So £8.45m allocated is only enough to prevent further decline – which means unfortunately unless the government funds councils with enough money to address the dreadful state the roads are in, many roads and pavements won’t be repaired, and those that are, will sometimes be patch up jobs (like the yellow line fiasco in Kemptown where the council tried to cut corners with a cheap contract, which the contractor bodged up).
Well they do get 20 million in parking fines that could be used on road renual. Hopefully those pavement parkers will get the fines lifted a bit higher
Recently on Eaton Road merely a week after roadworks! Granted it wasn’t a new surface but really? Total disruption to bus services and idiots still turning out of Tisbury Road despite northbound exit closed
The Muten Effect
The shiny green ev bay paint by the pub down the road from lidils white hawk has lost its value! Then the stupid zebra crossing on a corner the other end of the road where they blocked a so called rat run is a fatality waiting to happen. Cheap products on top of cheap prep makes bad value and cut corners bad planning from the governor’s (bhcc) labour