Road Along the Witham Bank

Yesterday, the 30th October 2025, a vehicle left the road along the Witham Bank whilst avoiding large agricultural plant travelling the other way. Police were in attendance.



The driver stated they felt the car bounce twice and the road felt to disintegrate below the car.



The incident/accident occurred near areas of subsidence and edge disintegrating where the carriageway inexplicably narrows.



Two weeks earlier, a cyclist - the Witham Bank is part of the National Cycleways - got a wheel caught in a rut caused by a rent in the tarmac.



I have raised the issue of the state of this part of newly laid road surface on Fix My Street on the 30th November 2024; #2825040 refers.

I have provided the details of Fix My Street to both the driver; cyclist; police and the drivers insurer who visited the site on today, the 31st.

Updates were provided on 2nd December 2024 - Investigating; 18th December 2024 - In Progress, with works planned; 27th January 2025 - Investigating; 13th February 2025 - No Further Action and finally 30th October 2025 - Fixed.

An anonymous posting on the 24th January 2025 stated that there was no evidence of any planned work.

FoI requests

1a. Could I ask what work was undertaken or what evidence was provided to justify none being undertaken when Fix My Street states the issues are more complicated than initially seemed?

1b. If it was justified that no work was to be undertaken; was it Council employees who made the decision or contractors with a pecuniary interest.

2. Secondly, why does the carriageway narrow at the very point that the slope of the carriageway side falls away steepest?

3. Finally, the work was completed by contractors in March 2022; what period of warranty was provided for rectification by the contractor.

I can confirm that the information requested is held by Lincolnshire County Council. I have detailed below the information that is being released to you. 

 1a Following receipt of the initial enquiry 2825040, the officer visited Witham Bank and raised jobs to repair any intervention level defects.  Please see attached site history report for details of inspections carried out and jobs raised at this location from the date of the enquiry to date.  At the time of the officer’s visit it was noted that there was cracking appearing along the verge edge of the carriageway but this did not meet our intervention level for repair, as outlined in our Highways Infrastructure Asset Management plan HIAMP . 

1bThe decision as to whether works are instructed or not are made by a trained Lincolnshire County Council Highways Officer and not our contractor.  These decisions are made in line with our Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan - HIAMP

2. The narrowing of the carriageway at the point where the side slope falls away most steeply is a historic feature, shaped by the natural topography of the landscape. The road therefore narrows to follow the contours of the land, which minimises disruption to the surrounding environment.

3. The warranty period for the works completed in March 2022 would have been 12 months.