A Manea mum is calling for urgent action on one of the main roads into the Fenland village after suffering a tyre blowout when she hit a pothole in the dark.
Rachael White has written a formal complaint to Cambridgeshire County Council and Fenland District Council, as well as contacting MP Steve Barclay, following the incident which left her and her three-year-old daughter badly shaken.
She has described Manea Road - which links Manea to the A141 - as "not fit for purpose" and has asked Robin Wyatt, vice-chair of the county's highways and transport committee, when the council is going to take responsibility for the road and repair it?
Now the county council's highways team has promised temporary repairs will be carried out this month to ensure the road is safe for users.
In her email to Cllr Whyatt, Rachael said: "The road is pretty much disintegrated and leaving massive craters and potholes for road users to be put at risk.
"I could not avoid or move out of the way of the pothole due to incoming traffic, and it was pitch black - but I shouldn't have to.
"The car almost left the road due to the impact, and I could have ended up in the ditch. My daughter was absolutely terrified and screaming in the back of the car.
"I had to call my partner to come and change the tyre in the pitch black at the side of the road with oncoming cars, some doing in excess of 60mph."
Rachael continued: "When is Cambridgeshire County Council going to take responsibility for the condition of this road and repair it sufficiently?
RECOMMENDED READING: Man named and charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after train stabbing
RECOMMENDED READING: County highways team is monitoring Fen road which is badly cracked
"I should not have to worry whether I will make it home in one piece due to the negligence of the councils.
"Why do you think it is acceptable to leave roads in this condition?
"Thankfully, on this occasion, all we suffered was shock and a tyre blowout, but the outcome could have been far worse, and if you do not do something about it with urgency, this could be the outcome for another family or again, my family.
"It was only at the end of September, the road was mentioned in the Cambs Times - 'Drivers are forced to play 'chicken' to avoid cracks. County highways teams are monitoring a fen road, which is badly cracked'. And a month later, nothing has been done or put in place to resolve the problems.
"You may be happy to play 'chicken' with people's lives, but I am certainly not taking this incident lightly.
"The road condition is absolutely appalling and not fit for purpose. What will it take for you to repair this road - a death?"
Mr Barclay has responded to Rachael, stating he understands her frustration and has asked the county council for an urgent update on repair plans.
Following the previous Cambs Times story, hundreds of people commented and listed roads across Fenland that are all in dire need of action, including the Sixteen Foot and Forty Foot.
Since then, roadworks have started on the Forty Foot and are expected to take a month to complete.
A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: "The B1093, Manea Road, Wimblington, along with many others in the county, is built over peat soils.
"This means the road surface can become significantly uneven with seasonal and weather changes. These problems aren't always easily visible, which makes them more dangerous to drivers.
"Our highways team is monitoring the road, conducting fortnightly inspections, and carrying out repairs to ensure public safety and has put out warning signs to advise drivers.
"Following our most recent inspection of the road, earlier this week, we're scheduling new temporary repairs to maintain the road and ensure it remains safe. These will be completed by November 26.
"Regarding a longer-term solution: We are doing everything we can locally to maintain and keep these [soil-affected] roads safe, but addressing this challenge properly requires national support and government funding for long-term solutions.
"We have already secured £1.5m of external funding and an extra £5m of capital funding to repair and reconstruct soil-affected roads. We’ll also be starting a trial next summer to investigate new and innovative ways to repair these roads."
“The 26/27 highways maintenance investment programme, including carriageway works in the County, will be considered by the Council’s Highways and Transport Committee in March 2026”
Share