Perth and Kinross Council pledges to embark on ‘first time’ repair policy.

Potholes and other dangers should be fixed at most within 30 days

Urgent road repairs should be carried out in under four hours in the future under new rules just approved.

Perth and Kinross Council’s Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee agreed the new measures, which will set deadlines for repairs based on how much danger there is to road users.

A report drawn up by Stuart D’All, deputy manager for the roads maintenance partnership in Perth and Kinross, said the local authority had to repair 10,207 road “defects” in the 2016-17 financial year and stressed approximately 5% of these required a repeat visit.

As a result, he suggested to the committee the council moves to a “first time” permanent repair policy.

It will spend around £500,000 on the revised roads network programme, which will include repairing potholes and verge cutting.

“For category one repairs, which are classed as an immediate and critical hazard to road users, we propose these are made safe immediately or within four hours,” he told the committee.

“Category two, regarded as a medium level of hazard, will be repaired within five working days and category three, classed as low risk, be repaired within 30 working days.

“This policy will mean more effective planning for first time permanent repairs to potholes and other road safety defects.”

He explained that a first time permanent repair consists of cutting a regular shape around the pothole, painting edges with bitumen, laying hot material and compacting it.

“It will also ensure better use of public funding by improving the longevity of pothole repairs and allows roads maintenance officers more flexibility to plan works,” he added.

Councillors heard the new policy will result in savings of £26,775.

Councillor Dave Doogan said the new policy was “positive” but suggested category two repairs be carried out within three days, category three in 10 and category four, which relate to those classed as very low or no risk, within 60.

However, Mr D’All told the committee these proposals would impact on staff resources and create a “challenge” to the roads repair team.

Colin Stewart, convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee,0 said: “This is a priority for this administration to help residents and taxpayers, with the previous policy going back to the 1990s.

“It will allow more ‘right first time’ fixes of potholes.”

This policy will mean more effective planning for first time permanent repairs to potholes and other road safety defects

Picture: PA. Holes and other hazards should be repaired quicker and more permanently under the new rules agreed by Perth and Kinross Council.