Holes in the road

The Guardian regularly runs pieces on how big projects - which often turn out to be outrageously expensive - get to squeeze out small projects which might have offered much better value for money.

On a smaller scale, perhaps the repaving of Epsom's market square, which I notice from time to time, has squeezed out lots of routine maintenance of our roads.

The example snapped left is of the entrance to Ewell West railway station from Chessington Road. With the trench having been dug by British Telecom, perhaps a year or so ago now, and already showing pot holes, with the one nearest the camera looking set to grow rapidly.

In defence of British Telecom, I seem to remember that it rained a great deal while they were doing this no doubt essential work. Furthermore, it is quite likely that no-one told them that the station was about to host a major construction project - a new footbridge with lifts over the railway line - which has no doubt resulted in rather heavier traffic than usual. Perhaps the plan is to reinstate the road when the footbridge has been completed.

Or perhaps, it was just that the supervision and inspection of the work to backfill the trench in the first place was inadequate.