The Manor Drive Report

Old Malden Liberal Democrat Focus Team

Malden Manor Ward

83, Knightwood Crescent, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 5JP ( : 020-8949 1095

23 September 2001

Director of Environmental Services

Guildhall

Kingston upon Thames

Surrey

KT1 1EU

Re: Report on The Manor Drive – Malden Manor Ward – Old Malden Neighbourhood

Background:

The following report is drafted after a detailed road inspection carried out this morning by myself and Mr Clinton Arthur. The report is based on a walk from The Malden Parochial School (even side of The Manor Drive) down towards Malden Road and then back towards Church Road on the odd side of The Manor Drive. The survey was to look mainly at the road and pavement surface, but took in other aspects such as graffiti and abandoned cars.

This report follows on from previous paving and road surface reports submitted on the road and depicts the current status of the road. Consequently this report will include some issues that have previously been reported. Further issues such as crime, vandalism, graffiti are covered on other detailed reports submitted previously by myself to officers and the police from which action is being taken.

The Manor Drive is a main feeder road for the Manor Drive estate and contains a primary school, health centre and youth centre (including a pre-school). Consequently the road has a high pedestrian and a high traffic flow.

RBK officers were invited to attend the survey but declined, they will however be carrying out their own detailed survey in November – a copy of which I would request, cross referenced to this one.

Objective:

The purpose of this report is to brief council officers ahead of their own road survey. In particular the report will point to a particular problem associated with cable TV trunk routes that may be causing soil movement. By pointing this out in advance it is hoped that the council may be able to approach the cable TV contractor with regard to correcting the damage now being caused. Failing that, then the cost of repair needs to be assessed and the appropriate position in the priority schedule assessed in light of this report.

Report (General)

Lampposts have some dog-fouling signs that require replacing. Can the Dog Warden be equipped with a sufficient quantity of posters to service the Neighbourhood please.
Lampposts appear to have the fault reporting details painted over. The stickers require replacing on some lampposts.
There is a scattering of litter along this road that needs to be cleared please. Some of this is associated with refuse collection and recycling collection (e.g. plastic bottles and tin cans).
There are still weeds along the edge of the road that require spraying and clearing away.
Officers should pay attention when visiting the road to the route that the cable TV trenches take. Close to the route one will notice dips in the grass verge (making it difficult to cut the verge grass), leaning posts and trees and shifts in the paving – especially sliding paving towards the line of the cable trenches. This is all indicative of solid movement, probably due to subsidence within the cable trenches. This needs to be fixed. Ideally at the expense of the cable TV company. While I appreciate that the work was carried out years ago, this is only now coming to light and so I would request that getting the cable TV company to pay for the repair is seriously investigated. It should be noted that there have been attempts to fix the paving surface – BUT the reason for the need to repair the paving has NOT been looked at. This I believe being associated with the route of the cable TV trenches.
The paving movement will continue even after repair. Not only due to the cable TV issue but also due to moisture loss and gain in the clay soil. Consequently where large areas of the paving surface are to be relayed, I suggest that a type 2 cement underlay as described by Mr Harris is used to increase the life of the paving surface.
There are a number of proud (raised) manhole covers in the road that could trip people up. The report mentions only the more significant ones. Others are also present though.
Check that dog-fouling signs show the correct penalty (currently showing £500).

Report (Even Side of Road – Walking Church Road towards Malden Road)

Church Road, Junction with The Manor Drive – by the Parochial School – graffiti on the two cable TV boxes.
Tarmac surface one or two areas where the tarmac is cracking, is wearing away or has small potholes.
Lamppost 27, the cover inspection plate requires locking properly.
New kerbstones by lamppost 27 appear to be pulling away from the kerb.
By the storm drain close to lamppost 27, the backing behind the drain has gone. The kerbstone behind the drain is not supported. Also the verge at this point by first parking bay is sinking. These problems at this point may be associated with the new bay rather than cable TV.
A dump of old ply board and rubbish outside the school require cleaning away.
A tree at this location is leaning – could be to do with soil movement.
There is a sign about priority to oncoming vehicles. Under this there is a clear plastic RBK letter holder with information about a planning application – this is not readable. Letter date 9 June 200
Tarmac outside the school is beginning to go in a few places.
The tarmac on the road outside the school gates by the yellow road markings has different levels – easy to see by the different colour tarmac. This could be to do with movement.
Opposite 169 on the even side there is tarmac meeting the grass verge – there is a dip, probably due to a car tyre. Soil around the tree at this point appears to be dipping down.
Two black and white reflector posts. One adjacent to lamppost 125. This reflector post is loose and can be pulled right out. This needs to be set correctly.
Telegraph Pole 308 outside school playing field is leaning badly – this looks as though it is associated with the cable TV trench. The phone wires would pull it down not support it. The earthing conductor on the post has also broken, due to the strain of the leaning post.
O/s the school playing field, there is an issue of the grass verge and the paving. A difference in level raises an issue of safety being close to a school, but also there are issues in terms of being able to carry out the verge cutting properly and this needs looking at.
Opposite 157 (by the School Playing field) The Manor Drive there is a tree. By this tree there is a paving slab which rocks across the diagonal of the slab. This needs padding with sand.
Opposite 153, 155 there is a paving slab which rocks.
Please check the paving adjacent to the school for other problems that will become more apparent come the winter.
Two paving slabs along from the 153, 155 problem (close to Lamp post number 23) a small paving stone also rocks.
Outside (O/s) 130 there are three broken paving stones. One of these has a hole in it that could trip someone up if they were wearing high heels.
Outside the school field area, the road surface has a few cracks and could do with sealing.
The storm drain outside 128. There is a gap and a slope that will create a large puddle. So the road surface requires attention here.
Paving outside the following number 126 is cracked and damaged.
Road sealing outside 126 requires attention
Crossover where it joins the paving stones outside 126, damaged stone, with a half inch to an inch (1cm to 2cm) ridge in the paving that could trip up a pedestrian.
Around the area of the roundabout close to Paddock Close and Leyfield, the road is in need of sealing, due to cracks appearing.
Cement crossover outside 122 is cracked up. Was dug up for cable TV. Requires relaying. This is also close to a crossing point.
Directly opposite 139, at the crossing point (school side) a point in the paving close to two water stopcocks. This paving here is badly damaged.
Tarmac crossover outside 118 has bad potholes.
Car outside 118 registration D219 BPL – Peugeot 309 Dark Blue, dented in side. Has no tax disc. Possibly dumped.
Crossover ridge o/s 114 cracked paving stone and slight drop.
O/s 112 paving stone has been removed and replaced with tarmac – uneven. Replace correctly. This point is close to a tree.
Four paving slabs further on, there is a paving slab that has lifted in one corner, which requires relaying properly. Actually o/s 112 there is a group of slabs that require relaying. Actually from 112 up to alley (adjacent to 110) all require re-setting.
Alley at side of 112 and 110:
Overridden with weeds along the full length
Lamppost in alley requires attention
Side of 112 is covered in graffiti – officers should examine this alley in detail. In particular for graffiti removal and subsequent targeting to catch and if necessary prosecute the culprits.
O/s 114 is a tree, paving adjacent to this is uneven.
O/s 104 the crossover is very badly broken up – cement surface.
O/s 102 -100 is uneven requires relaying. Paving ridge adjacent to crossover by 100 requires attention. The paving here has a good gap depicting soil movement here.
O/s 98, crossover has a small pothole.
Edge of crossover adjacent to grass verge o/s 98 & 96 there is a dip adjacent to paving slabs that requires filling.
O/s 94 paving is moving.
The Manor Way junction the road surface has been disturbed (probably due to cable TV trunking) this has dipped and the ridge needs to be re-looked at.
O/s 88 ridge between paving and crossover particularly close to The Manor Way road name sign.
Paving shifted O/s 88 is uneven.
Round manhole cover o/s 88 adjacent to paving and is proud (high).
Paving near water meter stopcocks o/s 88 and o/s 86
Paving slab o/s 84 moves, proud by about 1 inch (2 cm)
Paving o/s 82 paving broken
O/s 84, 82 driveway crossover is broken up
O/s 92 paving and driveway requires attention
O/s 90 paving near tree is uneven (close to lamp column 14).
Lamppost 14 – sign "Midnight – 8am, etc" restriction sign faces the paving not the road. This needs rotating.
Crossover – Pavement join by number 78.
Middle of road o/s 89, 91, 76, 78 road surface requires minor repair – surface breaking up. Would want this fixed before it gets worse.
Paving 0s 76 minor movement in surface. But by number 74 the paving has moved more and the surface is in need of relaying.
Crossover by 74, a tarmac on cement base surface is in a poor state of repair and requires attention. Note at this point look along the length of the road and see the cable TV cable route and cross refer to the paving and other movement problems.
Kerbstone near the drain o/s 74 appears to be lifting – suggesting soil movement.
O/s 72 – the crossover tarmac surface requires attention.
Paving o/s 72 are starting to move.
O/s 71 and 72 close to Avondale Avenue, two stopcock points set in cement. This area is uneven.
O/s 70 junction with Avondale, bend is uneven and will collect water. This requires attention.
Crossing Avondale one will notice a hole in the road surface that requires sealing. A couple of trenches have been dug at this point (probably for cable TV).
Outside number 68 (opposite corner) junction with Avondale Avenue the paving is uneven. A manhole cover is proud and requires attention.
A few steps on o/s 68 another manhole cover – gaps in the surround, where someone has tried to sort the problem by just tipping in cement – this requires sorting out properly.
O/s 66 paving requires attention – one paving slab has been broken. Again a cement bodge has not worked.
O/s 66 and 68 the road surface adjacent to the kerbstones there is a channel where weeds grow. These looks like when the kerbstones were put in, the job was not done correctly. Consequently the edge of the road surface requires attention.
Lots of weeds growing at the edge of the road o/s 64 and 62.
O/s 64, 62 and 60 gap in paving.
Thames Water have removed a paving stone to install a water meter o/s 60 and have replaced the stone with tarmac that is now breaking up. This needs to be done again properly.
O/s 58, four paving stones in from the crossover to the property there is a paving stone with a raised edge that requires to be reset.
O/s 58, the tarmac crossover surface is becoming uneven. Particularly near to the water stopcock point.
O/s 56 adjacent to the unused gate, a paving slab has moved (5 paving slabs away from the crossover).
O/s 54 the crossover has two bricks set into the concrete that are slightly proud. This should be looked at.
Paving at the junction with The Hollands again the paving is very uneven. Particularly o/s 54 where there is a water stopcock point sitting proud of the paving at a slight incline. This has been sprayed blue (probably resulting from an earlier report) BUT nothing has been done as yet. This should be chased up.
At the junction of The Hollands and The Manor Drive there are a total of three manhole covers, one of which is oval in shape. This is proud of the road surface. Also the road surface is breaking up badly at this point. At the middle of the road at this point there are a couple of potholes. There is a trench in the road with a ridge that requires attention (previously reported some time ago and for which I am still waiting action). On the opposite side of the road there is another manhole cover, where the road is breaking up. This entire junction requires attention. Note also the problem outside number 65.
O/s 52 the area of paving has gaps and has been filled with very soft tarmac, which is breaking up and moving onto the paving surface. One can see that this is moving onto the paving surface and someone’s high heel has at some point become lodged into the tarmac surface. This area requires attention. Other areas of paving o/s 52 also require attention.
Opposite Lady Hay, the Manor Drive road nameplate has graffiti on the rear side that requires attention. There is some rubbish at this junction also.
O/s 52, close to road nameplate, the paving requires attention.
New water meter o/s 50 (lamppost 10 close bye) tarmac surface appears to be sagging (settlement). There is obviously a need to check that reinstatement should be done properly. This area will just collect water in winter and become a puddle, so requires attention.
O/s 48 crossover has a few dips and the cement is cracking up. This requires attention.
O/s 46 paving slabs need attention, tarmac breaking up. Associated with a water meter.
Road surface from number 44 up past the junction with Leyfield a number of potholes and a number of road ridges that require attention. Also road sealing required here. A dug channel is also associated with this point.
O/s 42 and 44 the paving has become uneven (see odds section regarding road surface)
O/s 38 and 40 the paving is uneven and requires relaying.
Opposite number 38 to number 53 the road surface is uneven, potholes, sealing required. O/s 56 towards 53 there are a number of ridges due to trenches being dug and more potholes. Towards 34 more potholes and ridges.
O/s 34, broken paving stones. Paving is slippery, the tarmac is moving both up and down (rippling). Small potholes. A tree is present here and with the cable TV trenches this could be adding to the problem.
O/s 32 there is a similar problem to that o/s 34. Also a cable TV trench visible here. At the crossover (close to a tree) this requires attention.
O/s 30 the grass verge next to the kerbstone has dipped. Requires soil to fill in the 2inch rise (4cm).
O/s 30 the crossover separating itself from a manhole cover. The paving at this point (from 30 to 28) requires attention.
O/s 28 cable TV trench, surface moved, 1 inch rise in the paving at various points requires attention. Adjacent to a double cable TV manhole cover there is a paving slab that is sinking. The manhole surround is also breaking up at this point. This is adjacent to the Give Way sign S3. (see section on odd side of road concerning road surface).
At the Give Way sign S3 there is a roundabout warning sign that has some graffiti on it.
Lampposts 6, 7 have a dog fouling sign that requires replacement.
Paving o/s 26 (close to lamp column 6) is broken and requires attention.
Can I please remind the officers regarding residents’ petitions on the state of both Manor Drive roundabouts and that at present – due to instructions from the administration no action has as yet taken place. This I would hope would be rectified next year. This includes the problem with bollards B10 and B11 for the resident getting out from the driveway by this property.
O/s 24 by a manhole cover LEPLC EN124 B125, the grass verge here dips quite badly and because of the length of the grass, a pothole in the verge is not visible. This is opposite a bollard, that could be viewed as a crossing point and so it is important to sort this out.
A council tree expert should look at tree o/s 22 the bark appears to be pulling away from the tree.
O/s 18, adjacent to the grass verge there is a small dip which is not far from the other dip reported and so if filling in the other, this could also be done.
In the grass verge o/s 14 adjacent to the crossover there is a dip (pothole) in the grass.
O/s 10 paving surface is very bad. A patching attempt with tarmac has been carried out. This is not satisfactory and I would request that it is looked at again.
The crossover o/s 8 is breaking up due to the cable TV trench. Ridges are appearing and this could trip someone up.
O/s number 8 there are 2 water stopcocks set in cement between paving slabs this needs to be relayed properly.
O/s 6 there is a crossover – 2 sections adjacent to resident’s property is beginning to break up and this will collect water in the winter. This should be levelled up.
Between 4 and 6 minor paving alterations required to make it level.
O/s 4a there are weeds breaking up through the tarmac surface.
O/s 2a and 4 rubbish needs to be cleaned. Also at the junction of Downfield and The Manor Drive.
Round manhole cover at 2a has an edge to it that requires attention. Note the resident is doing their driveway here and appears to be storing bricks on the verge so some discussion for access will be required.
O/s 2 there is another cable TV trench (a newer one) there is a small gap between the paving and the crossover that could trip someone up.
O/s 2 – directly opposite the clinic and the Doris Venner Youth Centre on the grass verge the soil around a new tree is dipping.
The paving stones from number 2 down to Downfield are becoming uneven and this requires attention.
The cable TV manhole cover which is at the junction of Downfield and The Manor Drive with a proud edge and the kerb stone adjacent to that has moved. The kerbstone was patched with tarmac poorly and this kerbstone needs to be replaced correctly.
On the Downfield Road sign there is a parking restriction sign that is facing the pedestrians and not the road. This needs rotating around.
The waiting restriction sign on lamp column 1 in Downfield has lost its parking restriction sign and this needs to be reinstated.
Foliage is growing around Downfield lamp column 1 and this requires pruning back.
On the signpost for The Manor Drive (at the junction with Malden Road) the sticker for dog fouling requires changing.
The 7.5 T Lorry warning sign is damaged and at some point will require replacing or repairing (although for now is OK). This should be included in the signpost monitoring as the top surface is bent. Looks as though some one has tried to wrench it down.

Report (Odd Side of Road – Walking Malden Road towards Church Road)

On the Signpost for The Manor Drive (at the junction with Malden Road) a new dog fouling sticker is required.
I note that the pathway across the green from The Manor Drive towards The Avenue is to be laid as part of future proposals that are due to go out in a draft form for consultation with residents.
Rectangular manhole cover between the pillar box and the Doris Venner centre, proud of the tarmac paving surface.
Large cable trench dug at the point outside the Doris Venner centre, this follows the road under the grass verge and this should be noted when looking at subsidence issues on this side of the road.
By the Doris Venner centre by crossover – adjacent to this is a round manhole cover that is proud at one edge and needs to be reset correctly.
The surround around the double cable TV manhole cover and between the grass verge is uneven. This is close to a point where children will cross the road for the pre-school at the Doris Venner.
Pavement dipping at the footway crossover at the Doris Venner. This will collect water in the winter. The grass verge between the kerb and pavement has a ridge that requires filling in with soil.
At the same location, opposite the tree and notice board, there is a dip in the verge surface that requires filling in with soil.
Outside the Doris Venner Centre there is lots of rubbish beneath the hedge that requires cleaning.
At the point where the grass meets the Out crossover for the Manor Drive Clinic, there is no grass – only mud. Replanting and soil level requires correcting.
O/s The Manor Drive Clinic, one of the grass verges has a manhole cover that is proud. This normally would not be flagged as a problem. However because of its closeness to the clinic it could present a problem. This therefore should be levelled.
The tree o/s the Manor Drive Clinic has a lot of loose bark around its base. Council tree experts should check this out for any potential problems. At the base of this tree there is a rectangular manhole cover which has dipped down considerably. This is adjacent to a tarmac surface.
O/s The Manor Drive Clinic by the sign, there is a tarmac crack starting to appear. This could grow to be the same as the Plough green path problems as continually reported! Please The Plough would be a higher priority to this stretch. BUT one has to ensure that this does not spread to be like the Plough Green path (between the path and the Plough Pub – Junction Church Rd and Malden Rd).
The drain o/s The Clinic – opposite no 4 is filled with soil. This needs to be cleared.
The kerbstone adjacent to the drain above requires to be relayed.
Paving from the clinic sign and the IN crossover for the clinic is uneven and requires attention.
The crossover for the IN crossover for the surgery has broken up badly.
Lamppost 3 has some graffiti on it – clean please. Also an advertising sticker should be removed from this.
O/s 21 Thames Water stopcock point is broken and is proud of the paving. Suggest either the paving is re-set or Thames Water lower the stopcock point.
The crossover points for number 21 the junction between the paving stones and the tarmac crossover needs attention.
O/s 21 two Thames Water stopcocks and a Post Office (BT) manhole cover the paving around those points is uneven and requires attention.
Mrs L. at no XX (name removed on published copy as personal casework) has a communal RBK (possibly Thames Water) drain that crosses her property under the drive draining from Orchard Court (The Avenue – also in Malden Manor Ward – on the border with Epsom). This is causing cracks in her driveway. Can this be looked at please. Possibly by referring to Thames Water as appropriate.
Mrs L. also reports paving problems due to a tree outside number 21 – but please remember my comments regarding cable TV trenches.
Middle of the clinic on the grass verge, Mrs L. reports that a parking restriction notice sign was knocked over. This was removed and not replaced. Can a sign be reinstated please. Possibly by utilising an existing lamp column or other post to avoid clutter.
O/s 25 a small paving stone rocks – 2 along from crossover – small middle one.
O/s 21 a small Thames Water stopcock point is proud of the paving.
O/s 35 paving is starting to sink. Close to 33 and a Thames Water (water meter) point. A block of about 6 paving stones are affected here.
O/s 37 mid point where the paving has become uneven.
Round manhole cover adjacent 2 Signpost S1, concrete surface cracking up and in the in-fill there is broken glass, that carefully needs to be removed with an appropriate safety appliance (not normal issue).
Adjacent to tree o/s Rosebury house no 39 (close to Bollard B11 and Highdown) double manhole BT cover the grass verge at this point requires infilling with soil.
The roundabout at the junction with Highdown, the construction of the surrounding kerbstones is starting to break up, which is probably due to heavy vehicles passing straight over. This issue was pointed out before the construction of the roundabout. Residents like me have also complained about this junction in terms of the proposed plans and after the plans were implemented by the Conservative administration for the Neighbourhood.
Adjacent to sign post number (unknown – sticker requires replacing) and outside number 43 The Manor Drive there is a manhole cover that is adjacent to a drain. The drain is full of leaves, the manhole cover has sunk into the road and the road surface is breaking up. Closer to bollard B4.
NWBV stopcock is not shutting properly (broken hinge possibly) and is proud of the paving surface.
O/s 45 two round manhole covers – cement surface of which are breaking up and are proud of the surface. These need to be looked at.
Bollard B8 o/s 28 and 43-45 the road surface is breaking up and needs to be relayed at this point. This is a main crossing point – safety issue.
O/s 47 paving breaking up close to a crossover point. Mid point with 49 the paving is uneven due to a stopcock point and a fire hydrant point.
O/s 49 there is a tree and a paving stone associated with this that rocks.
Grass verge o/s 49 adjacent to residents’ crossover has a dip in it. Note the path of the cable trunk for cable TV along this stretch of road and its influence on paving and verge.
The water stopcock o/s 51. There are 2 of these and as you face number 51 the one on the left (closest to 49) has a broken hinge and was standing proud. This cover needs to be replaced as when it is lifted it is difficult to get back in place – I may have managed to fix this on a temporary basis but it should be looked at.
O/s 51 paving is uneven
O/s 53 and 36 the road surface is breaking up.
O/s 53 close to 55 paving is uneven – couple of broken paving slabs.
O/s 55 driveway crossover is cracking up. A couple of round manhole cover slabs with weeds growing through them are present – these need looking at.
Grass verge junction o/s 55 dip in grass verge that needs filling with soil.
O/s 57 cement crossover point is in very poor condition.
O/s 57 Seal on the Thames Water – water meter is out of place and would easily catch a foot and trip someone up. This needs to be replaced (not just broken and cut).
O/s 57 Paving slab replaced with tarmac at this point needs to be replaced with a paving slab.
O/s 57 and 59 the crossover and paving is uneven.
Lamppost 9 – dog sticker requires replacing and reporting faulty lamppost sticker details requires replacing.
O/s 61 the water stopcock point is smashed and requires replacing by Thames Water. Paving is damaged – reported before but nothing has been done. Can this be followed up please. Please note Thames Water marking down again – reported but nothing happens. Why?
O/s 61, 44 and 46 the road surface is breaking up.
Transition between the paving and the driveway at number 61 requires attention. cable TV crossing point here. A few broken paving slabs present also. Note this point is close to the junction with Leyfield.
Bend between Leyfield and 61 The Manor Drive is very bad and needs to be relooked at.
O/s 65 opposite the Hollands the storm drain looks blocked. The gap between the drain and the kerbstone needs to be filled in.
The kerbstone adjacent to the above mentioned drain and lamp column 11 is rocking.
The road surface at this same point (by lamp column 11) requires attention.
The crossover point at number 65 the tarmac skin has eroded from the cement under-base and potholes are developing.
Rubbish around the street in this area needs clearing.
Grass and weeds growing up between the paving slabs in this area and this will cause further paving problems. The weeds and the gap both need attention.
O/s 65 and 67 broken paving slabs.
O/s 67 there is a cable TV manhole cover where the surround has become dangerous – broken up cement metal edges. If anyone fell at this point they could hurt themselves badly.
O/s 67 a round manhole cover with cement in-fills. One of these in-fills has collapsed. The manhole cover is camouflaged by grass making it more dangerous.
Paving o/s 67 is rising and this needs to be treated.
O/s 69 the crossover needs attention in places.
O/s 69 – opposite 56 and 58 the grass verge dips very badly at least 6 inch difference between the kerb top edge and the grass verge. The reason for this is a sunk manhole cover at this point. This requires attention.
Adjacent to the above point a round manhole cover has an edge that has shifted upwards while on the road surface there is a round manhole cover where the concrete infills have collapsed and the road surface next to that has become potholed.
Tree o/s 71 – the soil is cracking up around the base of the tree. This may require attention.
O/s 71 paving starting to move, a few places with a 1 inch gap. An attempt to infill with cement has been made – but the reason for the gap has not been addressed.
The crossover point at 71 requires attention – again cable TV may be a cause. Note number 71 reports that they are getting a new drive, so this may be fixed by that process. However the cable TV problem may require attention, otherwise the problem may come back.
O/s 71 there is a gap in the grass verge.
O/s 73 the paving is becoming uneven.
O/s 73 and 75 the kerbstones appear to be rising again and this may again be an indicator for soil movement due to the cable TV trench. Or were the kerbstones reinstated in the wrong way at some point? This requires attention.
O/s 60 and 62 there are weeds next to the kerbstones and road surface (like many parts of the road).
O/s 77 the crossover is very bad – a cement slab has lifted with a jagged edge showing.
O/s 77 and 79 there is a drain the road surface around the drain is starting to break up. The kerbstones by the drain are free standing, there appears to be no support under these.
Ridge in the road surface o/s 77 and 70 that requires attention.
O/s 79 the tarmac has been patched, but is breaking up. This is slippery and loose.
O/s 81 the tarmac surface has a ridge and there are two different levels that requires attention. Again the tarmac surface is breaking up in places.
O/s 81 and 83 the pavement is becoming uneven. Particularly at the point close to the water stopcock.
Cable TV manhole cover that is very proud of the grass verge o/s 83. This requires correct reinstatement.
O/s 79 The Woodhams family report that the tree o/s their home has an undergrowth that obscures safe vision when driving from the driveway onto the road. This is probably one of those trees where the tree is grafted onto a different base and this is leading to the lower level growth.
O/s 83 and 85 there is another dip. The residents wall is cracking also and this may be a subsidence problem associated with the cable TV cable channel. The grass verge is also dipping. I would request that the road condition with regard to subsidence be looked at by engineers. If I am correct about the cable TV problem then action needs to be taken.
O/s 85 uneven paving.
O/s 87 a channel is present in the grass verge.
Corner kerbstone between 87 and 89 is proud next to a telegraph pole – this appears to be out of kilter with the rest of the road surface and I wonder if this is another subsidence indicator.
O/s 89 broken paving stone.
Trip point between the pavement and driveway outside number 91.
O/s 93 the cement driveway is breaking up badly. This needs to be relayed. The paving here all appears to be showing evidence of movement – sliding towards the cable TV trench. Some tarmac was poorly patched here (requires redoing), there is also a dip in the grass verge along the edge of the pavement. From this point one can look back along the road towards Malden Road and see the effects of the cable TV trench on the road and paving.
O/s 95 broken paving stone.
Dip in grass verge between 95 and 97.
Lots of debris o/s 97 that requires attention.
Lamppost 15 no reporting number sticker present.
Note the cable TV problem could explain the soil cracking by trees, leaning trees and leaning telegraph poles.
Tree o/s 97 soil cracking – see above point.
O/s 101 the crossover is cracking up. The transition between the paving and the crossover was patched, but not very well. This now needs to be done correctly.
Opposite Manor Way o/s 101 and 103, the gutter between the road and kerbstone has dipped considerably, the grass verge is dipping.
O/s 103 there is a large manhole cover plate that is too small for the opening. This rocks, one can view into the hole down one edge. This may potentially be dangerous and needs to be looked at urgently.
Paving o/s 103 is shifting and moving.
O/s 105, 107, 109, paving problems. A dip by 109. This is coming up to a cable TV inspection manhole point. The dip could well be associated with the collapsing trench.
O/s 111 the fire hydrant point is slightly proud of the ground level. The paving also needs realigning in places.
Two road ridges o/s 111 and 98 causes noise as vehicles move across (as I reported and was eventually fixed in South Lane close to Aldridge Rise).
O/s 111 the storm-drain has a gap between the drain and the kerbstone.
O/s 113, 115, 117 the paving needs attention.
O/s 119, 106 there is a trench crossing the road that requires attention.
O/s 121 and 123 the paving is dipping. There is a tree that may be associated with this. There are also two Thames Water stopcock covers that are not properly surrounded in paving at this point, but by an overflow of the grass verge. The grass verge at this point is moving.
By lamppost 18 a patch has been turfed. But the new turf has died. There are various turf patching projects at this point that have failed or which have been done poorly.
O/s 125 the grass verge needs attention.
O/s 125 a red A board sign is present (collapsed) "Broadband Services International Ltd Working on behalf of Telewest Communications Ltd- Apologise for Any Inconvenience Caused Tel 0500 468 468" cable TV manhole cover that has just been left open, damaged in places and needs to be reinstated.
O/s 125 paving requires attention and one slab has been replaced with tarmac. This needs to be correctly reinstated.
O/s 127 pavement is uneven. The crossover is uneven in places and is suffering from subsidence. This edges onto the paving o/s 129. The grass verge o/s 129 is just showing early signs of going as well.
O/s 131 and 133 the paving is uneven and the grass verge between the two properties is dipping in places. I suggest that the cable TV trench is mapped against the paving problems here.
O/s 135 broken paving stone.
Tree ties broken o/s 135.
O/s 137 Rubbish – possible plastic bottle dropped by recycling crew. Glass bottle o/s 137. 139.
O/s 139 crossover breaking up badly. This requires looking at.
Junction of Leyfield and the Manor Drive by bollard B6 there is a storm drain at this junction, which is clogged up with rubbish on the road surface. This needs to be swept away from the drain. This is to do with killed weeds that have not been swept away properly.
Hydrant points by lamppost 20 is raised high and there is a broken paving stone there.
Crossing Leyfield to Paddock Close by lamppost 16 the kerbstones are moving and need to be relayed. The storm drain at that point is also sinking and that requires attention. Note the position of the cable trench (ridge) for the lighting on the new roundabout.
The kerbstone line by Paddock Close is out of alignment. By Bollard B1. Also paving is moving up and down here also.
Crossing Paddock Close – the road surface is breaking up in places. There is a No Through Road sign that is fading and needs to be replaced (o/s 97 Leyfield).
By lamppost 22 the tarmac is coming away from the kerbstones, particularly by the storm drain. Also a triangular section of road surface at this junction is sinking – opposite B4 bollard – may be to do with crossing point.
Grass verge next to the pavement and the cable TV manhole cover appears to be sinking. This again suggests that there is something wrong with the cable TV cable ducting.
O/s 145 uneven paving
O/s 147 area on grass verge that appears to be in line with the concrete channel that was dug across the crossover to 147. This is moving. This requires attention. The young tree o/s 147 has soil moving very slightly around it suggesting that the ground is sinking.
Notice 149 the grass is coming away from the kerbstones. Follow the line from 149 to 151 the movement can be observed.
O/s 155 and 157 the cable TV trench is running along the edge of the pavement and this could explain why the paving is sinking. O/s 155 and 157 the paving is uneven
O/s 163 there is a 1 inch gap between the paving and the crossover that requires in-filling.
O/s 163 – opposite telegraph pole 308 there is a dip in the soil.
Give way to oncoming vehicles sign adjacent to a tree. The foliage is starting to creep over the sign, there are also stickers over the word vehicles. These stickers should be removed.
The white lines by the traffic-calming outside the Parochial School, together with the yellow lining needs to be re-done and this is fading. Close to 169 The Manor Drive.
If the grass was levelled outside the school o/s 169 then this could make grass cutting easier.
Graffiti on bollard B3 needs cleaning.
Paving o/s 173 uneven.
Manhole cover o/s 173 is proud of the surface and close to the crossing point needs to be set properly.
Past 175 there is an entrance to a garage, a tree at that point and there are cracks in the bark that needs attention. The grass surface has eroded badly and roots are proud of the ground. Vehicles may possibly mount the paving at this point while dropping children off. Also note at this point that the kerbstones are out of alignment with the rest of the road. This is close to the new parking bays.
Lots of rubbish at the junction with Church Road in particular on the parking bays in The Manor Drive.
End tree opposite lamppost 27, can see where vehicles have mounted the verge, destroying it and causing it to turn to mud, filling up with water. This makes it difficult for people crossing the road.
At the junction with Church Road (63, Church Road), the resident’s wall is collapsing and this may be associated with cable TV.

4. Conclusion

The report outlines serious issues in connection with cable TV. I would like this investigated and if appropriate action taken to have this repaired at no cost to residents. However I would like the repairs carried out. Some of this can be done on the routine maintenance budget. Where specific stretches require neighbourhood funds, I would like this cost estimated and fitted in with the priority programme. I would also like a report against each individual item stating what action is being taken please.