Every time I get on the bus I'm reminded of a huge problem that needs solving soon
I've been getting the 82 bus into town for as long as I can remember but I dread stepping onto it now. I shouldn't - as buses go, it's a good one, taking you from South Liverpool into the city centre in good time and following a useful route.
But frankly, it has got to the stage where sitting on the top deck of the 82 has become a demeaning and rather unpleasant experience. As the bus makes its way down parts of Park Road, you are thrown all over the place as it navigates a carriageway in pretty poor condition.
Bus drivers do their best but they're not left with much chance. Having your head slammed against the bus' windows becomes a common occurrence as potholes and patched repairs throw the vehicle all over the place. Standing up to get off at your stop can become a perilous activity in itself.
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I know there are bigger problems in the world, but surely we can expect more from a busy urban road which is one of the major routes into the city centre. For me, it's the result of more than a decade of austerity which has left the public realm up and down this country in a very tired state.
Potholes are commonplace - and are one of the things that annoy people most. They are just one sign of an austerity programme which means the basic functions you should expect in a country like ours just don't operate as they should.
We know that austerity has had a drastic impact on the quality of life in Britain - benefits have been slashed, people have less money in their pockets, the NHS has been battered and other public services are just scrambling to function. But austerity also comes in what you might consider more menial forms.
Overflowing bins are frequent sights - leaving litter blowing across our streets, many road signs are covered in dirt, public toilets have been shut or left to rack and ruin, cycle paths and walkways are left in poor condition. It wasn't always like this.
These are all examples of what has been called 'quiet austerity'. It's meant that many of us have got used to a country which doesn't look at its best and where not much works as it should.
Now, lots of people will jump to blame their local councils for the number of potholes. That is fair, as they do have responsibility for the roads, but I have sympathy with those authorities over this issue.
The past decade and a half of Tory rule have left councils chronically underfunded - barely able to keep key services open and not leaving them with much cash to fix problems such as potholes. Liverpool City Council's core spending power has been cut by 35% in real terms since 2010/11, a loss of nearly £330m per year when adjusted for inflation - that is a real-terms cut of around £780 per person in the city.
It's up to the new Labour government and Chancellor Rachel Reeves in particular to ensure that is a thing of the past. On the pothole front, there was positive news yesterday, as Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said she and her government have 'declared war' on potholes, which delay journeys, damage vehicles and put the lives of drivers at risk.
During a visit to Blackpool on Thursday, the Transport Secretary met road workers and councillors to learn about high-definition imagery technology. The Lancashire town’s Project Amber scheme uses an advanced imagery system that takes pictures of roads to detect potholes and compile data on areas most in need of repair. It is hoped similar systems can be replicated across the country.
Ms Haigh said: “For too long, this country has suffered from a pothole plague. Blackpool Council are already doing fantastic work to make the most of new technology to repair potholes faster. This should be a model for every community to learn from and help deliver the roads their drivers deserve.”
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Last month, new research revealed that concern about the state of local roads had reached record levels. Some 27% of those questioned in a survey commissioned by the RAC said their vehicle had suffered damage as a result of potholes in the previous 12 months.
Blackpool has seen significant reductions in its compensation bill for pothole-related payouts since using the technology. In previous years it was paying up to £1.5 million a year to settle claims, but last year it paid out £719, the government said.
Such a system could benefit us all. Drivers' cars would be in better condition, places would look nicer and those of us who take the bus could enjoy a smoother ride.
It's the least we can expect in a country like the United Kingdom.
Please send in pictures and details of the worst potholes near where you live to news@liverpool.com