Potholes peril gives drivers a rough ride

Bonecrunching holes, some measuring 12 inches deep, make Plant Street, Wordsley, a real obstacle course for motorists, and has left many wondering whether it is the worst stretch of road in the West Midlands. The unadopted road near The Red House Glass Cone tourist attraction serves a series of trading units, and Dudley Council has no responsibility to maintain it.

Geoffrey Robinson, aged 62, owner of Specialist Cars Wordsley for 27 years, says the problem looks like it will never be sorted out.

"I've wanted something doing about this for years but I'm planning on retiring in 18 months and I doubt it'll be sorted by then," he said.

"I have to get old classic cars down here and it's a nightmare sometimes.

"The worst is when it's been raining and the holes are full of water. People come bombing along here and then suddenly you hear a bang which means they have hit a hole."

"These are some of the worst potholes around, but there are loads along the roads around here – all with yellow paint marked around them but no-one filling them in."

Mr Robinson, who regularly works on Rolls-Royce and classic Ford cars, said it would be up to the tenants along the street to foot the bill for road improvements.

"When a strip of asphalt was put down for the new apartments built at the entrance to Plant Street, off the main road, the road became a rat run for cars coming down off the estate," he said.

"If it were to be surfaced, people would act like idiots speeding down here as a short cut and I think that is what stopping getting the holes filled.

Plant Street can be used as a route on to Wordsley High Street from surrounding roads including Bracken Park Gardens and Mill Street.

"It's really a Catch 22 situation as there would be more traffic coming past here if it was done," Mr Robinson added.