Councillors demand better feedback on complaints over road defects

A “bespoke channel” is required between councillors and DfI officials for addressing constituents’ complaints on problems in the local road network.

That was the demand form a DUP representative who said he was contacted by motorists 30–40 times per week.

Under the current system, councillors may log complaints on everything from potholes to flooded drains on a DfI (Department for Infrastructure) portal in the hope that officials will take action.

The problem, says Darryl Wilson, is that councillors receive no feedback on when, or even whether, the complaint will be addressed.

He aired his grievance when councillors met senior DfI officials on Tuesday.

“When we are in touch on a one-to-one basis there is usually a positive outcome,” he said during a Q&A with DfI officials in the council chamber last Tuesday,” said Cllr Wilson.

“But like the 39 other members here, we have been instructed to use the portal. And because there is no feedback we are logging them and we have members of the public coming back asking what has happened, and we have to say to them its popped off into the ether.

“With other statutory agencies there is a bespoke channel for elected representatives so I would like you to take that away and please consider that.”

Sinn Fein’s Leanne Peacock agreed the online channel provided “no feedback at all”.

As an example she explained how lights governing the one-way traffic flow over Kilrea’s Bann bridge had failed recently causing “absolute mayhem”.

“I could give you a ream of different instances where there have been things that really need to be done as quickly as possible built we can’t give any reassurance to the public that its being looked at, that its going to be dealt with soon.”