Edinburgh branded 'pothole capital of Europe' as residents move traffic cones into holes

Edinburgh Council is urging people not to move traffic cones into potholes – amid complaints the city has become “the pothole capital of Europe”.

Local residents have been posting pictures online of their efforts to warn other road users of the state of some streets.

The local authority, which is minority run by Scottish Labour, has since warned against moving the cones, saying only those with “relevant training and authority” should amend traffic management.

Wilma Harper took action after coming across a pothole around a drain in Queensferry Road, near to Drum Brae in the west of the city.

“I took a cone and stuck it in the hole,” she said in a Tweet to the council. She added there were “bits of debris” on the pavement.

Ben Glasgow did the same on West Coates in the centre of the city.

He said: “As a matter of urgency, you need to fix this road.

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“Could easily kill a cyclist and damage many unsuspecting cars or even cause a head-on collision.”

Mr Glasgow shared a video of the cone in the hole.

Roadworks have now commenced to resurface West Coates, which is expected to take around six weeks to complete.

Scottish Conservative and Lothian MSP Miles Briggs told Sky News that covering up potholes with traffic cones was “not a solution” as he hit out at the state of the city’s roads.

He said: “Edinburgh has now become the pothole capital of Europe and the poor condition of the capital’s road is an ongoing issue.

“Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are reporting more and more potholes and local roads in a worse condition than I can remember.

“Covering up potholes with traffic cones is not a solution and emphasises just how bad the roads in the capital have become.”

Mr Briggs said the Scottish Conservatives want a Pothole Action Fund to focus on repairing badly damaged roads.

‘Road maintenance in Edinburgh is underfunded’

Scottish Labour councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener, confirmed there had been an increase in enquiries due to the “prolonged cold weather” in mid to late December followed by torrential rain.

He added that “additional resources” were being diverted to cope with the problem.

In response to residents moving traffic cones into the potholes, he said: “Only people with the relevant training and authority should amend traffic management, which otherwise could pose a risk to other road users and themselves.

“Emergency road and pavement defects should be reported to our contact centre or out of hours team, who will arrange for an inspection and repair as soon as possible.”

He added: “I acknowledge that road maintenance in Edinburgh is underfunded, and I hope to work with other political parties to address this in the coming budget.”

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