Potholes causing 'serious damage' to refuse collection vehicles at Glasgow recycling depot

Potholes inside a Glasgow cleansing depot need to be fixed to avoid “further damage” to refuse collection vehicles, according to a leading trade union.

The GMB has raised concerns that potholes at the Polmadie Recycling Centre, are causing “serious damage” to the refuse vehicles which drive through them.

Chris Mitchell, GMB convenor, said that Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) and trailer trucks have been getting tyre punctures as a result of the road conditions.

There are said to be fears they will sink into the “sinkhole” if they continue in the current conditions.

Glasgow City Council said regular inspections of depot sites were carried out and they were not aware of any problems with punctures to vehicles.

The council said potholes inside the depot are caused by a fault in the asphalt surface which then wears away.

There are usually two or more layers of stone and concrete underneath the asphalt and the vehicles are sitting on top of those layers.

Concerns have also been raised by the GMB about the state of Polmadie Road which leads up to the depot.

There are said to be fears the vehicles will sink into the “sinkhole” if they continue in those conditions. LDRS

Mr Mitchell is calling for a full resurfacing job to take place rather than a “patch up” job which he believes will save the council money in the long run.

He said: “RCVs are going along the road to the Polmadie depot and they are churning up the road.

“It is actually getting quite dangerous. It is becoming that bad that we are going to have to stop RCVs from using the road.

“We need someone to take responsibility and fix the roads – not a patch up job – a proper job with full resurfacing in that area because it really is dangerous.

“We are worried that the RCVs are going to sink and fall.

“The potholes are getting worse and worse and worse – from the top of Polmadie Road to the depot.

“It will cost thousands of pounds to resurface it. The vehicles are being subjected to punctures.”

Glasgow City Council says a sinkhole, which is being “implied to be the issue”, sees the surface level of asphalt sag and eventually give way completely, usually because of a water leak that over time washes away the sub surfaces of the road.

A council spokesperson said: “Our depots are regularly inspected and risk assessed and remedial action is taken where appropriate.

“There is no information we are aware of that indicates surface conditions in the Polmadie depot are causing punctures in our vehicles.”