Rumbolds Hill repairs are a '˜sticking plaster'

Days before the Observer began its potholes campaign, frustrated Midhurst residents asked the North Chichester County Local Committee last Tuesday when the notorious sinking road would be dealt with.

Mr Dye said the county council highways department was ‘having internal meetings’ but it was ‘quite evident’ repairs were not sufficent.

He said: “With a reconstruction, which is what is required, given where it’s positioned and the diversion route needs, it throws in a lot of complications.

“I hope, I keep talking to engineers, it will be done as soon as possible.

“With the road space, the diversion route, the length of the work, whether it’s night closures or daytime closures, there are going to be massive implications that we need to be aware of.

“All we can do at the moment is a sticking plaster, we know it needs attention but we want to give it proper attention.”

Pothole issues were also raised at Billingshurst Parish Council the following night, as councillor Garry Commins said the resurfacing work on the bypass was ‘diabolical’.

He said: “The surface is all over the place.

“It’s already breaking up at the edges.

“The road should never have been allowed to be opened.”

County councillor Amanda Jupp said the road was ‘perhaps not up to standard’ and may have to be re-done.

While parish councillors said they were glad of much-needed repairs to Natts Lane, some voiced frustration that only part of the road had been repaired, leaving a ‘trench’ like hole further down the road.

Cllr Jupp said the repairs had to be raised as separate jobs, even if the road closure was for the whole stretch.

She added that the county council intended to hire a different highways contractor as of July.