Some people have told me about slips and injuries, while others described the daily worry of walking children to school or trying to get to work. What has frustrated people most is the answer they have been given. The council says it cannot grit because the roads are not adopted. Developers say they will not grit because of liability or contractual concerns. Responsibility is passed around, and nothing changes. Cranbrook is not alone in this.
I have heard similar concerns from local people in other large developments, including Westclyst and Newcourt. Gritting has brought the issue into sharp focus, but the problem runs deeper. It is about unadopted roads, unclear responsibility, and the long delays that leave communities stuck in limbo.
When a road is adopted, it becomes part of the public highway, and the council takes on responsibility for maintaining it, including winter gritting. But in many new developments, roads can remain unadopted for years after families move in.
People understandably assume that if they are paying council tax, basic services will apply where they live. Instead, they find that essential maintenance sits in a grey area, with no clear route to action when something goes wrong.
I am regularly contacted about poor road surfaces, drainage problems, and flooding. These are not minor inconveniences. They affect safety, daily life, and peace of mind. They also become harder to resolve when the adoption process drags on, and accountability remains blurred.
That is why this week I have written to the relevant minister to ask what action the government will take to ensure there is clear, enforceable responsibility for the maintenance of roads and footways before adoption, including during severe weather. If a road is not yet adopted, someone must still have a duty to keep it safe.
Local people should not be left exposed simply because organisations cannot agree on who should act. If you are experiencing problems linked to unadopted roads where you live, please contact my office.
