The concerted efforts to fix the potholes on South Gloucestershire’s roads are really paying dividends as the amount of potholes repaired so far this year has already surpassed the figure for the whole of last year.
Since this year’s pothole repair campaign started on 25 January, the council’s teams have already repaired over 3,300 potholes, including 1,600 in February alone, compared to 3,200 over the whole of 2009.
This was made possible after the council put a plan in place to re-prioritise the existing highways maintenance budget and invest £350,000 to address the situation. An extra £2m had already been invested this financial year to improve the condition of local roads and this will be repeated in 2010/11.
Because of the severe winter the number of potholes on the district’s roads has doubled, the council has increased the number of staff dedicated to tackling potholes by 50 per cent. These additional teams are working longer hours including through weekends to get the job done.
This additional investment and resources means that the rate of pothole repair is far higher than last year, and in addition the Council is patching of an extra 3750sqm of road and the full resurfacing of an additional 2.5km of carriageway.
Cllr Heather Goddard, executive member for communities, said: “We are determined to respond quickly and decisively to the problems that the severe winter has caused on our roads.
“We have made resources available to deploy extra teams to repair and patch potholes and this year’s much larger resurfacing programme is continuing.
“Our teams are working flat out to repair and improve the district’s highways and residents should hopefully have seen the benefits of this.
“But we know there is still more to do so I urge residents to contact us to report potholes in their area and our teams will get to them as soon as they can.”
In addition to the pothole repair campaign the council has also resurfaced many roads in South Gloucestershire since January, including Nibley Road in Yate, Beckspool Road in Frenchay, Siblands Road in Thornbury and Feltham Road in Pucklechurch. Within the next week the council will also be resurfacing Stover Road in Yate, Wapley Road in Codrington and Down Road, Winterbourne.
Residents can report potholes by visiting the council’s website and click on ‘Spot holes’ Report a pot hole here – www.southglos.gov.uk/potholes – and filling in an online form or by ringing the Street Care helpdesk on 01454 868000.
Source: South Gloucestershire Council
