LARGE holes in a road outside a Johnstone Post Office are driving pensioners potty, according to a campaigning councillor.
Derek Bibby claims elderly people are having to take evasive action when crossing Walkinshaw Street to access the parcel collection office.
The Labour man is calling for the carriageway to be prioritised for resurfacing work in the next round of Renfrewshire Council-funded road improvements after it was missed in this year’s list.
Councillor Bibby, who represents Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch, told The Gazette: “The Post Office is very busy throughout the day, as is the parcel collection office.
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“Many older people use the Post Office and it cannot be safe for them to cross the road at these points – not to mention the damage to vehicles using one of the busiest thoroughfares in the town.
“Customers and staff have raised concerns and think the council should be prioritising Walkinshaw Street for resurfacing. I agree with them.”
The call for action comes a week after The Gazette revealed there has been a drop in pothole compensation payouts by Renfrewshire Council over the past year.
Figures show that, from April to August 2019, just over £10,000 was forked out to motorists to fulfil claims made by those who had their vehicles damaged by potholes.
SNP councillors Emma Rodden and Andy Steel hailed the current administration’s investment in roads, with more than £7million spent in 2018/19 and a further £40m planned for the next five years.
However, Councillor Eddie Devine, leader of Renfrewshire’s Labour group, claimed the figures were “inconclusive” and should be considered more broadly.
He said: “The worst months are yet to come for 2019/20. The majority of the problems tend to come in January, February, March and even April.
“I don’t know how you can draw any conclusions from those figures, they’re inconclusive. You can’t take half a year’s figures and claim it’s huge progress.”
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Renfrewshire Council has said it will consider adding Walkinshaw Street to the resurfacing programme for 2020/21.
A spokesman added: “We regularly review all roads in Renfrewshire to ensure our roads network is safe and we have made a five-year £40million investment to improve the standard of roads throughout the area.
“Walkinshaw Street, along with all other streets, will be considered for resurfacing as part of next year’s programme and our roads team will assess and carry out any immediate repairs needed at this time.”
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