Highways managers are tackling Telford’s potholed roads and uneven pavements as a matter of top priority, a packed public meeting heard.

They have dramatically cut the number of successful compensation claims from people coming a cropper on the borough’s footpaths. But they admit 56 per cent of strategic footways, including many paths around the town centre, are still officially labelled “defective”.

The points were made during a presentation to a 220-strong audience at Oakengates Theatre which hosted the annual meeting of Telford & Wrekin Senior Citizens’ Forum yesterday.

Keith Smith, highways maintenance manager with Telford & Wrekin Council, said the authority maintained 625 miles of road (excluding the M54), 500 miles of footpaths and 63 miles of cycle tracks.Just one per cent of the borough’s A roads were rated as defective, putting Telford in the top quarter of authorities nationwide.

Thirteen per cent of B and C roads and 17 per cent of unclassified and estate roads came into this category, although the main problem was the 56 per cent of strategic footways rated defective.

“That is why a lot of additional money is being targeted over the next three years, with £750,000 being spent on footways alone this year,” Mr Smith.

An ongoing programme to replace uneven paving slabs and resurface lumpy footpaths has cut the amount of compensation handed out by the council from £140,000 in 2004 to under £50,000 last year. And the difference had been ploughed back into further improvements, he said.

Mr Smith said the council’s roving “pothole buster” van had proved a huge success in patching up potholes virtually as soon as they were reported.

He added: “We were one of the first in the country to invest in this kit. If people spot a pothole they should call highways customer services on (01952) 384000 or report the pothole via the council’s website.