Bumpy road ahead in council potholes war

Potholes are wrecking roads like never before – a result of a string of harsh winters.

Thousands of potholes are reported to councils across Shropshire and Mid Wales each year, with problems further increased by heavy rain this winter.

But with their funds under unprecedented pressure, local authorities are now hoping for a slice of extra Government cash to help them deal with the issue.

The Government has just pledged £103.5 million to help local authorities across the country pay for road repairs, but has yet to say how much each will get.

A fund for areas with the most severely damaged roads after this winter's flooding will also get an extra £36.5m – taking that cash total available to £80m.

This is in addition to almost £900 million already made available for road work this year, bringing total Government investment allocated to road maintenance to more than £1 billion in 2013/14.

Britain's climate makes it especially susceptible to potholes. They are caused by water expanding as it freezes before melting. If the freeze lasted weeks or months and then was over in one thaw, the roads would not be put under such pressure.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "This extra money will help make a real difference to the millions of road users and local residents who rely on local roads, giving them safer and smoother journeys."

But potholes are an expensive business. And the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned councils need billions rather than millions to get the country's roads up to scratch.

Mike Jones, chairman of the LGA's environment and housing board, said: "It is good news for residents that Government has listened and responded to councils' call for more money to repair flood-hit roads.

"We do not yet know what the full bill for the cost of this winter's devastating floods will be, but we expect it to be more than £140 million. Councils already face a substantial £10.5 billion shortfall to bring our roads up to scratch and this has been exacerbated by adverse weather."

Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that it was not clear how the new Government cash will be shared out.

The council is currently undertaking a review of the way it classifies highways jobs and whether they should come under capital or revenue budgets so money can be set aside for repairs more efficiently.

At a full Shropshire Council meeting last month, independent councillor Dave Tremellen, who represents Highley, claimed the council "had lost the battle" with potholes in south-east Shropshire.

But Claire Wild, portfolio holder for highways and transport, said this was not the case, but admitted: "Potholes are a challenge for this council, as with any other local authority. Furthermore, the appalling weather over recent weeks and months has exacerbated the issue.

"In parts of the county that have a mix of urban and rural roads this further adds to the problem, due to the mix of vehicles and changing nature of vehicles, as well as the historical construction."

Among the problem areas in line for repairs over the next 12 months are Highley High Street, sections of the A442 in Alveley, Cann Hall Road, Bridgnorth, and near Dudmaston Hall.

The B4371 Stretton Road, Much Wenlock, and the A464 Holyhead Road, near Albrighton, are also in line to be repaired.

Prior to the problems caused this winter, an LGA report published last June suggested almost one in five roads in the county are in need of maintenance.

More than 1,400 potholes were reported to Shropshire Council by members of the public in 2012, with 1,303 related to carriageways and a further 103 to pathways.

The 1,406 reports of potholes does represent an improvement on 2011, when 1,467 cases were reported. And the situation is even worse in Telford & Wrekin, where almost 8,000 potholes were fixed in 2012/13.

Last month, Telford & Wrekin Council said that since the start of October to February 7 it had repaired more than 1,200 pothole defects, with nearly 500 still to complete at that point.

In 2013, Powys County Council had to pay out £1,136.47 in compensation in 134 claims for pothole-related damage to vehicles.The number of claims were almost 60 per cent higher than in 2012, when 84 claims were made. But pay-outs were higher that year, with £1,395.99 paid out.

Lee Evans, spokesman for Powys County Council, said: "We have an inspection regime for our roads and the roads are inspected according to their classification."