Road maintenance in France - Vive la difference!

[Oliveau]

We live just off a local D road. My farmer neighbour has a council road off the D road about 400 m long going to the farm - nothing else, just the farm. This morning the council turned up to re-surface it. Not tar and chippings, but a proper Barbour Greene laid tarmac surface, about 40 t in total, and laid past the buildings right up to the house.

Note the number of men, also note the young lad with the shovel whose job it was to spread a bit more material where he thought it was low. I even saw him bend down to pick up 2 leaves that had fallen off our lime tree before the roller passed. I really can't see the 'yoof' of England doing such a job [unless they could be called 'Quality Control Manager].

 

[PSQ]

This happens in the UK too.


But *only* if your 'farming neighbour' also happens to be a councillor.

 

[Oliveau]

Erm - more than that; he's on the village council with particular responsibiliy for the roads. I know village council doesn't mean much if it's compared with UK Parish Councils, but here the local mayor has much more responsibility, and terms of total land area our Commune is the biggest in France.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

This happens in the UK too.


But *only* if your 'farming neighbour' also happens to be a councillor.

our district councillor lived along our lane. Seems like it’s closed every 3 months or so for resurfacing or drainage works.
I’ve only just used up the 20t of chipping the sweeper tipped in my yard maybe 6 months ago and they are meant to be back this week to do it again.
Is it me or is tar and chippings the biggest waste of money going?!

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I agree, it looks good for few months but in reality is just an iffy plaster.

trouble is everything is help together by plasters, no budget to fix things now

 

[TheTallGuy]

our district councillor lived along our lane. Seems like it’s closed every 3 months or so for resurfacing or drainage works.
I’ve only just used up the 20t of chipping the sweeper tipped in my yard maybe 6 months ago and they are meant to be back this week to do it again.
Is it me or is tar and chippings the biggest waste of money going?!

As with all things, tar & chip can be a really useful thing if used appropriately & done properly. The issue is that councils use it as a "cheap" fix & the contractors do the bare minimum to get paid. The main use for tar & chip should be life extension of the top surface with any significant defects pre-repaired to provide a suitable base.

 

[Forever Fendt]

our district councillor lived along our lane. Seems like it’s closed every 3 months or so for resurfacing or drainage works.
I’ve only just used up the 20t of chipping the sweeper tipped in my yard maybe 6 months ago and they are meant to be back this week to do it again.
Is it me or is tar and chippings the biggest waste of money going?!

Not if you want some cheap pipe bedding , There a good idea

 

[puppet]

The main use for tar & chip should be life extension of the top surface with any significant defects pre-repaired to provide a suitable base.

One team left a dead cat and tarred over it. Might at least have put it in a pothole.
Local cat lover went mental when she saw the little mound.