Overgrown grass verges and potholes are making High Wycombe’s roads look “third world”, the town’s former mayor has claimed.

Cllr Brian Pearce said the situation on some roads in the town is “quite deplorable” and he says he has received dozens of complaints from residents in his ward – particularly in Holmers Farm Way, Crest Road, Cressex Road, Limmer Lane and Booker Common.

His complaints come as the county council revealed it is currently two weeks behind on its grass cutting schedule due to bad weather.

He said dozens of roads in his area are in a “disgraceful state of dereliction” including Shrimpton Road, Redmund Road, Brandon Road, Alfred Road, Cullan Road, Holmers Farm Way, Newmer Road, Limmer Lane, Willow Avenue, Squirrel Lane, Havenfield Road, Fernie Fields and Ash Road.

Describing the problem, he said: “Regarding the road surfaces, certainly if one drives around the town, but in my ward in particular, it is invariably easier to list the roads that are in good condition rather than trying to compile a doubtless gargantuan list of those that are ridden with potholes.

“The other problem we are presently experiencing are neglected grass verges. In Crest Road, in the vicinity of the Hilltop Community Centre, I believe that it is a health and safety issue as many young children attend the centre and drivers may not be able to see them on the side of the road.

“At the top of Limmer Lane there is a roundabout - the grass is exceedingly tall here and young children could definitely not be seen by motorists.

“The annoying thing is, we as motorists pay a fortune in tax with excise fuel duty and road fund tax with the initial notion that some of said funds would go towards the upkeep of our roads and verges.”

Transport chief and deputy leader at Bucks County Council, Cllr Mark Shaw, said they have received no revenue grant from central Government this year and warned the picture will be “becoming bleaker next year.”

He said: “The county council is responsible for maintaining highway verges across the county and has a policy in place that means that urban verges - 30mph roads - are cut four times per year. 

“We are aware that this level of service means that grass does grow longer than we would like, however the current level of service is based upon the amount of funding that we have available for all work types.”

In response to concerns about the state of the roads, he added: “The county council is one of only a handful of councils across England that supplements is highway maintenance capital grant. 

“This resource allows for investment in the network to improve condition and not just to maintain at ‘steady state’.

“Further, the announcement at council in April of an additional plane and patch budget of circa £3 million has helped the local teams to identify their worst local roads and have them repaired in time for the winter season.”