WARRINGTON Borough Council’s policy for filling in potholes in the borough’s road is inefficient and not the best use of resources, according to opposition councillors.
A motion is to be put to next week’s meeting of the borough council calls for a change in procedures “at the 
earliest opportunity” so that more potholes in an area are treated and not just the worst.
It will be tabled by Liberal Democrat councillors Brian Axcell and Bob Barr
The motion acknowledges that the council faces constraints on spending and that there are strict criteria for the filling of potholes so that only holes of a sufficient depth are filled, with nearby holes of a lesser depth left untouched.
But it expresses concern about the quality of some repairs which, the two councillors claim, lead to repeated “patching up.”
The council should learn from other councils’ more effective ways of filling potholes, they say.
Cllr Axcell (pictured) said: “The public is concerned about a policy for repairing potholes which has a negative impact on the reputation of the council.
“Motorists and cyclists are being exposed to risk of damage and injury by leaving untouched potholes that do not meet the criteria for repair.
“We understand the constraints on spending, but we believe the council’s policy is inefficient and not the best use of resources.”
Council pothole policy is inefficient
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
Cllrs Axcell and Barr are right. The manner in which potholes are repaired is ineffective and inefficient. Typically several I regularly dodge to avoid have been repaired, only to fail again because the initial repair was inadequate. They were inadequate because the extent of the areas marked for repair did not cover the full extent of the damaged road surfacing around the pothole. Common sense dictates all damaged surfacing around the pothole should be replaced. If not, and only the pothole is treated, the resultant “repair” has a short life before a bigger repair (and cost) is required. This may suit the term contractor since it keeps his workforce ticking over, but it’s not sound financial sense for local council tax payers.
Isn’t it the same pothole repair policy that they ran when they were in charge? It’s rather convenient to now claim it is inefficient. Perhaps they could have a word with their chums in Whitehall and get some extra cash – that would be a start