Serious : We Have The Matter In Hand.

I guess my home town isn't the only place in the UK to be suffering a deluge of pot holes after the cold spurt we all recently survived, so maybe more than one of you will have some small measure of empathy as you read on.

Listening to the local radio station recently, they were reporting on the neolithic state of our city roads and fortuitously had the eager agreement of the local Bus Company to hold a telephone interview with said. The BC representative was none to shy with his condemnation of the condition of some of the major bus routes, and heatedly expounded the fact that should things not be maintained to standard post haste. the BC would be forced to consider suspending some of it's routes on the grounds of Public Safety. Fair point even without his dramatic rising pitch. One busy street in particular is so bad I swear a child could hop and scotch from pot hole to pot hole the entire half mile stretch without so much as once touching tarmac. I had the misfortune of experiencing this road myself a few days previous, totally unaware of what I was letting myself in for. It gave 'bone jarring' a whole new dimension. It is this road the BC Rep made his righteous stand on. Apparently some like minded locals have also started up a Facebook group to display their combined wrath at the state of affairs.

Being the professional balanced journo's they are, BlahBlah FM contacted the local Government Chimp responsible for Roads to ask for their comments. The reply was short and as meaningless as you'd expect.

"We are aware of the pot holes and have the matter in hand. We are not sure what a group of people on Facebook hope to achieve."

Well there you have it, an archetypal 'no comment'.

This news item has stayed with me over the last week as I have dodged and woven my Honda Wheeliebin round varying craters during its 20 mile a day cardio regime. A fun drive I must say, and very challenging when the small pot hole that was patched two days ago, the one you have every confidence is sorted, suddenly flourishes into a gaping maw hungry to devour your Dunlops. It's like having a different McRea Experience every day, jolly exciting stuff and certainly keeps you regular.

We have the matter in hand. Meaning? You are doing fuck all but procrastinating around the office all day looking for easier ways to justify your pay cheque. Perhaps Bob in Housing has commented on your Facebook status? Better have a quick look and another coffee before the heavy load of serious work work busy busy bang bang begins. I wonder if Julie in HR has weeded my corn? Just a sneaky look at Farm Town and I ..... oooo I have a message on Social Me!

As for the Bus Company. They are right, some of the roads are extremely hazardous and I am very surprised they are still running services on those routes .... or am I? The roads worst affected are also some of the busiest bus routes, they being the main roads in and out of our fair City Centre. Not just the main roads, but in particular cases, the only roads. Given there are no alternative routes in these cases, would the Bus Company seriously consider a suspension of service and, moreover, a suspension in revenue ? Doubtful, me thinks, unless they are forced to by a Higher Power.

And the Facebook Group. What do they hope to achieve? I've unsuccessfully looked for them on FB with the intent of adding my voice to the throng if they have initiated a written petition. If it's just another soap box to whine on then .... well I have my own fully fledged portable soap box and a captive, if mildly disinterested, audience here at Foxy Stoat.

[All Systems Go]

Aww... I was picturing kittens and bunnies.*







*although they would be eating the flesh of a man in a nicely-pressed suit