***UPDATE***
Of course this is an April Fools! We hope you enjoyed reading it, and wonder how many of the hidden clues you spotted – some more obvious than others…
***ORIGINAL STORY***
A district council has scrapped the filling in of potholes, instead planning to allow for natural resurfacing to take place.
Amby Council believes that the continued increase in potholes around its district will see the road surface smooth out over a number of years. Therefore, instead of pothole resurfacing, the authority will let nature take its course.
Money saved as part of the first Amby Pothole Resurfacing Impact Log will go towards helping protect the district’s green spaces, with a fund being allocated to vehicle repair claims, in the inevitable transition period between road surfaces.
“We can already see a smooth road surface at the base of the many potholes motorists have reported,” commented councillor Lila Proof, responsible for budgets. “With such a surface already appearing, we believe natural erosion of the top surface over a number of years will benefit the local area with better road quality.”
The news has been greeted with mixed approval from local residents and businesses. Pam Due, Managing Director of Alis Thorstein, a local business, added “Drivers of our heavy lorries do not even notice the potholes on our industrial estate, so the plan will have no impact on us, as long as our business rates are not increased.”
The announcement of the plans to allow for natural road resurfacing could see other district councils follow suit. The number of potholes in the UK is increasing, with motorists spending more on repairs to damage caused by the uneven road surfaces.
Pothole problem will continue
“Drivers are suffering at the moment,” added Lila Proof. “However, we have a fund for those who see serious vehicle damage, which will also help local garages, as they will see increased work. Therefore, everyone wins from our natural road resurfacing plan.”
Garages in Amby will need to ensure they have the right equipment to cater for a likely large increase in work caused by road damage in the coming years. Yet Amby Council is not planning to support workshops with investment.
Matthew Smith, a technician at John O’Keef Engineers, stated: “Roads in Amby are worsening day by day and we are seeing so many requests for wheel alignment, and alloy repairs. If we are to see more potholes while the council goes through its ‘natural process’ then we need support as well, and it is disappointing to not have this.”
The plans for the natural pothole resurfacing scheme were signed off by the council on 1st April, and it is expected to take five fool years before the road surface is stripped of its top layer, into a smoother state.
