A never-ending fight about deplorable road conditions in Fergus has one Centre Wellington councillor fed up.

Ward 3 Coun. Bob Foster has been fighting for the reconstruction of St. George Street East, from Herrick to Garthshore Street, since 2007.

Foster says many residents in the area tell him the road conditions are horrible.

Ward 3 Coun, Bob Foster. Courtesy Wellington-Centre township

“I’ve had one person tell me that they cannot, after repeated flooding in their basement each spring because of poor storm water, he can’t get insurance coverage in his basement, for basement flooding," Foster said. "Another has told me that the snow plow blade banging on the bumps and uneven pavement on the road wakes him up in the middle of the night.”

Foster says another resident told him the one good thing about the road conditions is that no one speeds, because you can only go 20 kilometres per hour, due to the rough shape of the road.

Foster says the reconstruction project was slated to be done next year.

“We’ve used the bogus excuse of slots revenue as a reason to defer it, we’ve got $50 million coming in taxation, and sewer and water bills, and user fees, and only five per cent of that revenue comes from slots, about $2.5 million,” he said.

The project is estimated to cost $2.1 million.

“You’re also required when digging up a road and you’re going to fix the pipes underneath it’s the sewer and water bills that fund the water and waste water infrastructure," he said.

He says it’s been an ongoing problem for the last 30 to 40 years, and using the loss of slots revenue as an excuse this year in the pandemic is bogus.

Foster says the adjacent road, Hill Street, the very same block is just as bad.

“These two roads are the worst in Fergus and they need to be fixed, and we need to stop making excuses," Foster said. "The mayor likes to talk about how growth pays for growth."

Foster says growth is not paying for growth, citizens are paying for growth.

“Look at this case here, these people who have faithfully paid their taxes for 40 years and they’re not even getting the most basic of services," he said. "A roadway they can drive on, sidewalks, and proper storm drainage."

He adds it’s not fair for those citizens, and that is why he continues to fight for the reconstruction project.

Bob Foster, Ward 3 Centre Wellington Councillor: