Cheshire East Council has filled 21,643 potholes in our roads so far this year – and says the drive to tackle the problem is now moving up a gear.
The warmer spring weather means repairs to the Borough's 2,673km of highways can now really gather momentum – as it is far less effective to carry out repairs in wet and freezing conditions.
Cheshire East Highways' team filled 21,643 potholes between January 1st and April 21st this year and are on target to fill and repair more than 50,000 by the end of 2013.
Members of the public are being encouraged to play their part and report all potholes to Cheshire East Council.
The authority is investing £25m in targeted road repairs and resurfacing works over two years. The aim is to prioritise the defects and roads that are in the worst condition and end the 'cycle of decline' in the road network.
Councillor Topping, Cabinet member in charge of environment, said: "We have been working really hard to repair the crumbling fabric of our roads – but there is still much to do. That is why we want people to report potholes to the council, so we can target the worst problems more effectively and quickly.
"Successive bad winters and flooding last summer have left our roads in a poor condition and we know what we have to do to keep the network in a safe condition and clear the backlog of repairs.
"A measure of our commitment is that we are investing £25m over two years to repair local roads – and this will have a major impact on improving road conditions for local people and drivers."
Of the 400km of roads classed as defective in Cheshire East, 25% are in Nantwich LAP (local area partnership), 18% are in Congleton LAP, 18% are in Macclesfield LAP, 17% are in Crewe LAP, 13% are in Knutsford LAP, 5% are in Poynton LAP and 4% are in Wilmslow LAP - which includes Alderley Edge.
You can report a pothole via the Council's website. Alternatively, ring the highways team on 0300 123 5020 and also see answers to frequently asked questions about potholes.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
This seems a short-sighted and ultimately more costly way of dealing with what is becoming a massive problem.
Why are they not completed properly.
All they are doing is filling the holes in very quickly, only to come back a few weeks later and do almost exactly the same again.
This is wasting everyone's time and expense.
If there are any Councillors / Council Staff reading this comment, Why are the potholes not repaired to a higher standard ? Why ? Why ? Why ?
It's no use being able to say we've "repaired" over 20,000 potholes in a few months if you have to repair the same ones a few weeks later !!!
From what I see, they are cheap jobs being done as cheaply and quickly as possible !!!
Can someone in authority at the Council sort this problem out correctly please ?
The Council should be applauded for their stance and the use of innovative processes which are being and have been used across the UK network.
Phillip Lewis, Sales Manager at Velocity UK Ltd.
Pop along to South Street in Alderley Edge and examine the road surface outside The Yard shop. One huge hole has been half-repaired and several others, slightly smaller, appear to have been ignored completely. It is neither efficient nor particularly safe as it remains necessary to drive round the potholes, thereby crossing onto the other side of the road. South Street is a small, but very busy street parallel to the main road in Alderley Edge, and Alderley Edge is by no means the only, or probably the worst place in Cheshire East, but these holes are significant.
I also find it significant that you write to us as the sales manager and not the customer service manager of your organisation.
Phill
The Council have a lot to answer for with the roads around Wilmslow and Alderley Edge in such a shoddy and diabolical state. The roads around here are like a third-world country.
The Council have obviously been irresponsible by not repairing the roads properly over the last few years and now its come back to haunt them.
We need the roads properly repaired, not just botched-up jobs like we're seeing now!!
I apologise if you see my comments as nonsense that's why it's a public forum and you are entitled to whatever opinion you care to have.
I applaud your effort with regard to the South Street potholes. Thank you. The problem is, however, that the council should be checking what contractors (ALL contractors, not just yourselves) are doing with the money given to them to spend on taxpayers' behalf. Sometime soon, there will be a serious accident as a result of someone hitting a pothole or swerving to avoid one. The council needs to take responsibility for what is happening here.
A quality control issue if ever there was one!