Number of four-week pothole repairs falls

THE proportion of potholes fixed within four weeks of being reported plummeted last year.

Figures for 2017/18 reveal that 64 percent of defects which were deemed to merit a repair across Lancashire were rectified within 20 working days - down from 97 percent a year earlier.

Highways bosses have blamed the combination of a severe winter and the introduction of a new system to manage pothole reporting and repair.

County Coun Keith Iddon, cabinet member for highways, said he was ‘really disappointed’ with the performance, but appealed to be judged in 12 months’ time after an overhaul of the system.

He was speaking at a meeting of LCC’s Internal Scrutiny Committee.

Figures show that performance in the current council year has been improving, from a low of 56 percent in April to 86 percent by June.

Councillors also drove home the frustrations of residents about how potholes are repaired - and the process for deciding whether they even needed to be.

Coun David O’Toole said: “I have personally reported potholes and I’ve been told they don’t meet the level [to be fixed]. The public don’t agree with you,” he told highways officers.

Members were advised that a new way of working meant highways teams do now have the flexibility to attend to minor defects when they are working on bigger problems nearby.