'They need to hear what the public think': pothole campaigner turns down private meeting with council after they can't attend public debate
Pothole campaigner Daventry Banksie has turned down an offer of a private meeting with West Northamptonshire Council after leading councillor said he could not attend a public event.
Frustration over potholes and road conditions in Daventry is set to spill over into a public meeting this week, as campaigner ‘Daventry Banksie’ says residents are increasingly angry and feel ignored by WNC.
WNC says it cannot send anyone to the meeting but had offered to meet the campaigner in a private meeting, an offer she has declined.
The meeting will take place on Friday (February 20) at 7pm at Southbrook Community Centre and will focus on the condition of roads, vehicle damage claims, and problems with reporting potholes. Anyone is able to attend. Daventry Banksie said: “I think it will be a huge rant and I think it will be a show of force… voices need to be heard. It’s not going to go away.
"The frustrations in Daventry about the roads are very high and the council should be transparent, people are losing all faith in council.”
Representatives from WNC, Kier and local politicians were invited but declined, instead offering a private meeting with Daventry Banksie.
Councillor Richard Butler, cabinet member for highways and transport at WNC, said: “We are unable to send anyone along to the public meeting that has been organised but would be happy to meet Daventry Banksie to discuss the issues raised.
“We hope everyone can appreciate that our crews are doing the best they can in very difficult circumstances and will continue to do so until we get past the current inclement weather.
“The best thing everyone can do is to continue reporting any potholes they find, which can best be done through FixMyStreet.”
Banksie rejected the offer of a private meeting, saying: “It’s not about me… they need to face the people. The people need to hear this.
“It gets lost in translation if it’s through me… they need to see the public’s frustrations over the roads.”
A key topic will be the council’s contract with Kier, with Banksie calling for greater scrutiny. She has been backed by former Labour leader on WNC, and Daventry resident, Wendy Randall.
She said: “I would definitely like the highway contract scrutinised as we have a right to understand what is the expectations within it.”
Daventry MP Stuart Andrew, who has backed the campaign, said he could not attend the meeting but will have a statement read out on his behalf.
Mr Andrew said: “I recognise the strength of feeling in the Daventry Constituency about the condition of local roads. Many residents have contacted me directly about potholes, and this was also reflected strongly in responses to the local pothole survey I launched. I have raised those concerns with the council and will continue to press for improvement.”