{"id":35,"date":"2026-11-03T18:26:49","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T18:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/fixing-potholes-is-not-glamorous-but-it-is-what-voters-notice\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T01:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T01:41:07","slug":"fixing-potholes-is-not-glamorous-but-it-is-what-voters-notice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/fixing-potholes-is-not-glamorous-but-it-is-what-voters-notice\/","title":{"rendered":"Fixing potholes is not glamorous, but it is what voters notice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GRAND plans win headlines. Smooth roads win elections.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask anybody what is wrong with their town and they will not mention strategy documents. They will tell you about the crater outside the chemist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ne-block ne-bm-image ne-block-b3534c2\"><figure class=\"ne-bm-image__figure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-1024x666.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Stadium, rows of seats, grandstand, sit, seats\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-1024x666.webp 1024w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-300x195.webp 300w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-768x500.webp 768w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"ne-bm-image__caption\">Also in Opinion: DAN FORD \u2013 Football is pricing out the very fans who made it <small>Source: Pixabay<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are now more than a million potholes on our roads, and the bill to repair them grows every winter they are left.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ne-econ ne-econ--parent ne-block ne-container ne-econ-210b5b3 ne-econ--flex ne-econ--full\"><div class=\"ne-block ne-section-heading ne-block-7a42b07 alignleft\"><div class=\"ne-heading is-plain\"><h3 class=\"ne-heading-title\"><span class=\"ne-heading-text\">Sign up for the <em>Opinion<\/em> newsletter<\/span><\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ne-block ne-newsletter ne-block-e4d64eb\"><form class=\"ne-nl\" method=\"post\" action=\"#\" onsubmit=\"return false;\">\n\t<div class=\"ne-nl-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<input class=\"ne-nl-input ne-nl-email\" type=\"email\" name=\"email\" required placeholder=\"Email address\" aria-label=\"Email address\">\n\t\t<button class=\"ne-nl-btn\" type=\"submit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up\t\t<\/button>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div><div class=\"ne-block ne-section-heading ne-block-0f31c3d alignleft\"><div class=\"ne-heading is-plain\"><div class=\"ne-heading-title\"><span class=\"ne-heading-text\">Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ne-block ne-inline-related ne-block-1e8d4d5\"><aside class=\"ne-ir ne-ir--twoup\" aria-label=\"Related articles\">\n<div class=\"ne-ir-head\"><span class=\"ne-ir-label\">Read more in Opinion<\/span><span class=\"ne-ir-rule\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"ne-ir-grid\"><article class=\"ne-ir-item\"><a class=\"ne-ir-thumb\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/our-high-streets-do-not-need-another-vape-shop-they-need-a-reason-to-visit\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-768x512.webp\" class=\"ne-ir-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-cat\">Opinion<\/div><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/our-high-streets-do-not-need-another-vape-shop-they-need-a-reason-to-visit\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#eb1701\">Mira Holt<\/span> Our high streets do not need another vape shop \u2013 they need a reason to visit<\/a><\/article><article class=\"ne-ir-item\"><a class=\"ne-ir-thumb\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/football-is-pricing-out-the-very-fans-who-made-it\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-768x500.webp\" class=\"ne-ir-img wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-768x500.webp 768w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-300x195.webp 300w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657-1024x666.webp 1024w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/10\/pixabay-photo-2921657.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-cat\">Opinion<\/div><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/football-is-pricing-out-the-very-fans-who-made-it\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#eb1701\">Dan Ford<\/span> Football is pricing out the very fans who made it<\/a><\/article><\/div><\/aside>\n<\/div><div class=\"ne-block ne-bm-heading ne-block-5410e8c\"><h2 class=\"ne-bm-heading__title\">Small things matter<\/h2><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A council that fills its holes, empties its bins and answers its phone has earned the right to talk about bigger ideas.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cPolitics is not complicated. People want the basics done properly and on time.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"ne-block ne-bm-image ne-block-044e5ba\"><figure class=\"ne-bm-image__figure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-1024x683.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"London, city, london city, england, urban\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2026\/11\/pixabay-photo-1018629.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"ne-bm-image__caption\">Also in Opinion: MIRA HOLT \u2013 Our high streets do not need another vape shop \u2013 they need a reason to visit <small>Source: Pixabay<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"ne-block ne-bm-heading ne-block-fdb3a68\"><h2 class=\"ne-bm-heading__title\">At a glance<\/h2><\/div><figure class=\"ne-block ne-bm-table ne-block-717e7c6 ne-bm-table--scroll ne-bm-table--borders-rows wp-block-table\"><table class=\"ne-bm-table__table\"><thead class=\"ne-bm-table__head\"><tr><th scope=\"col\">Story file<\/th><th scope=\"col\"><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Story file\">Section<\/th><td data-label=\"\">Opinion<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Story file\">Topics<\/th><td data-label=\"\">Comment<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Story file\">Reporter<\/th><td data-label=\"\">Ryan Collins<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Story file\">Published<\/th><td data-label=\"\">3 November 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" data-label=\"Story file\">Reading time<\/th><td data-label=\"\">1 min<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure><div class=\"ne-block ne-inline-related ne-block-dd96897\"><aside class=\"ne-ir ne-ir--list\" aria-label=\"Related articles\">\n<div class=\"ne-ir-label\">Most read in Opinion<\/div><div class=\"ne-ir-rows\"><div class=\"ne-ir-row\"><span class=\"ne-ir-num\" aria-hidden=\"true\">1<\/span><div class=\"ne-ir-text\"><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/ten-happiest-places-to-live-revealed\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#b65680\">Happy days<\/span> From seaside gem to historic market town, the ten happiest places to live revealed \u2013 is YOUR town on the list?<\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-meta\">Money \u00b7 3 min read<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ne-ir-row\"><span class=\"ne-ir-num\" aria-hidden=\"true\">2<\/span><div class=\"ne-ir-text\"><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/snow-shuts-two-hundred-schools-as-drivers-abandon-cars-on-the-pennine-pass\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#3a79bb\">Cold snap<\/span> Snow shuts two hundred schools as drivers abandon cars on the Pennine pass<\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-meta\">UK News \u00b7 1 min read<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ne-ir-row\"><span class=\"ne-ir-num\" aria-hidden=\"true\">3<\/span><div class=\"ne-ir-text\"><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/soap-favourite-dana-marsh-quits-harbour-lane-after-eleven-years\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#8a69a9\">Split shock<\/span> Soap favourite Dana Marsh quits Harbour Lane after eleven years<\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-meta\">Showbiz \u00b7 1 min read<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ne-ir-row\"><span class=\"ne-ir-num\" aria-hidden=\"true\">4<\/span><div class=\"ne-ir-text\"><a class=\"ne-ir-title\" href=\"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/rovers-land-striker-tobi-mensah-in-record-40m-swoop\/\"><span class=\"ne-pretitle\" style=\"--ne-cat:#208662\">Deadline drama<\/span> Rovers land striker Tobi Mensah in record \u00a340m swoop<\/a><div class=\"ne-ir-meta\">Football \u00b7 1 min read<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get the small things right and trust follows. Get them wrong and nothing else is heard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grand plans win headlines. Smooth roads win elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":95,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ne_pretitle":"The Spark says","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-35","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-comment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webangon.com\/sites\/newselement\/spark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}