Cheshire East Council says its highways service is working flat out to deal with the increasing number of road defects caused by fluctuating winter temperatures.
Each day, Cheshire East Highways teams are repairing an average of 150 road defects, including potholes, and re-surfacing up to 300 square metres of highway.
The council says that it recognises that residents are concerned about the number of potholes appearing on our roads and their highways service is working throughout the borough to address the problem on a priority basis.
The council is directing additional resources by increasing the number of teams tackling potholes from 12 to 19.
Councillor Don Stockton, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "We are in a similar position to many other local authorities.
"Repeated fluctuations in weather conditions – from above to below freezing – coupled with heavy rainfall, create the worst possible conditions for road surfaces, and result in an increase in the number of potholes.
"I would like our residents to be aware that we are working each day to address this problem. However, cold and wet weather conditions are not conducive to carrying out effective and lasting repairs. This means that in order to ensure the roads remain safe, some of the works are of a temporary nature.
"It has always been our policy, and that of other authorities, to work this way. The bulk of our annual road repair budget is invested in the summer months when working conditions are better and we can deliver longer, lasting repairs.
"All reported potholes and road defects are inspected and we have directed additional resources towards tackling the problem. We have a code of practice which states that necessary repairs are completed within a specified timescale and we have a reporting tool on the Cheshire East highways website so that our residents can alert us to a new defect.
"Over the last four years, we have invested £35m to maintain our road network and we will continue to invest in our roads to make them safe."
People can report any issues directly to the Council via their online reporting tool or by calling 0300 1235020.
Comments
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The ones at the top of Brook Lane and around to the railway bridge in Alderley are a chicane as are the ones on Congleton Road between Whitebarn Road and Artists Lane.
Whilst out walking after recent heavy rainfall I noticed a section of Chelford Road was badly flooded due to several drains being blocked solid with silt and debris. Perhaps not coincidentally, the road surface in that area was badly pot-holed.
Reported in early January they dumped a set of traffic lights there on January 22nd as a sticking plaster and according to their own useless website the work is going to be done by Thursday. I haven't seen any flying pigs in the local area so excuse me whilst I remain sceptical. Why are our Councillors (Don Stockton 'et al') not holding the badly managed Highways team to account and questioning the efficiency of the sub contractors Ringway Jacob (who are also under appalling new management). Any councillors care to respond over this or am I merely whistling in the wind?