Please end this pothole nuisance Councillors say a long-term solution is needed

Calls have been made for a long-term solution for potholes on a Perth street that are being repeatedly patched and causing a nuisance to neighours.

Perth and Kinross Council has told the PA plans to repair the problem potholes as well as a sunken gully on Tulloch Road were “significantly affected” by the pandemic.

Perth City North SNP councillors Ian Massie and John Rebbeck have received numerous complaints from residents about potholes on Tulloch Road.

Cllr Massie said they were “not only concerning new potholes appearing but also the condition of potholes which have been repeatedly patched-up”.

He said: “Whilst appreciating the efforts in trying to repair the potholes, it does appear to be a waste of time and resources when the repairs seem to be failing quite quickly.

“Residents in the flats adjacent to Tulloch Road are experiencing continued distress due to increased noise and vibrations as the vehicles hit the potholes and sunken gully.

“All around Perth and Kinross, the Conservatives’ promise of a ‘right first time’ fix for potholes is not being delivered.”

Tulloch Road resident Barry Smith said: “I became aware of vibrations and noise affecting my flat some months ago which I discovered happened each time a bus drove past the building.

“It appears to happen as buses drive over the many potholes in the road and is not helped by the corrosion in the drainage gullies at the side of the road.”

Cllr John Rebbeck said: “The problem does seem to be getting worse and, whilst I appreciate recent bad weather will have exacerbated the situation, I believe it to be a long-standing problem.”

Cllr Massie also disputed Cllr Angus Forbes’ statement to the LDRS last week that “all but emergency work on roads was banned in Scotland”.

He pointed to an updated statement from Angus Carmichael (the Scottish Road Works Commissioner) in June 2020 which said non-essential work could be done.

Responding to the claim, Cllr Forbes said: “There was a dispensation for emergency works so some potholes which were identified as dangerous would have been repaired but the numbers would have been far less than our ambitions.

“The key issue was the fact that routine road surfacing projects could not take place, these are the works we allocated a substantial sum of money to in our last budget and the works that really make a difference to the road surfaces that our residents rely on.”

He added: “Cllr Massie, like all councillors, can contact me at any time on any matter if he requires any help or further information and I will gladly give it so that we can all work together to deliver the bold ambitions of the Conservative administration.”

A spokesperson for PKC confirmed it was aware of the pothole defects and sunken gully cover on Tulloch Road in Perth and road workers had made several repairs.

The spokesperson added: “This section of road is in the 2021/22 programme of resurfacing and is provisionally in the works programme for June 2021. It was previously in the resurfacing programme for 2020 but the lockdown covering AprilJune 2020 meant that it was not possible to carry out the works.

“Planned patching was carried out later in 2020 but the programme was significantly affected, as the projects planned for the three months which were lost could not be delivered when the restrictions were lifted.

“Similarly, resurfacing projects were deferred and these roads, including Tulloch Road, have continued to deteriorate and will continue to do so until such a time that they can be included back into the programme.

“Following the Scottish Road Works Commissioner’s June statement works did recommence as described above, whilst maintaining social distancing protocols and so works were further impacted.”