“Worst ever" potholes expected (From Bucks Free Press)

“Worst ever" potholes expected

7:40am Wednesday 8th December 2010 in News By James Nadal

“Worst ever" potholes expected

ROAD repair teams are 'working around the clock' as drivers are told to brace themselves for the “worst ever pothole season”.

Insurance experts from a Potholes website say the £320m paid out last year by drivers for repairing damage done by the street cracks could 'pail into insignificance'.

Transport bosses say it is too soon to say how bad the holes will be in Buckinghamshire, but they are expecting the 'same challenges' as last year.

Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct, which runs Potholes.co.uk, said early severe winter weather will lead to a rapid deterioration in the state of the roads over the next few months.

“Everything is pointing towards a miserable period for motorists,” he said.

“Local councils and Central Government have a duty of care to maintain the roads of Britain.

“Yet, with the extended period of cold weather and councils trimming budgets across the country, it’s hard to see how they will be able to tackle what points towards being the worst ever pothole season.”

Pothole damage usually affects wheels, tyres and suspension.

Responding to the claim potholes would be worse than ever Mark Oldfield, Transport for Buckinghamshire Communications Manager, said:

“Who knows? We're only at the very beginning of winter period now.

"It would be very much dependent on the winter we do have.

“In terms of Buckinghamshire, it (the weather) hasn't been as bad as elsewhere in the country and there will be more problems for other people.

“The problem is, it's not just snow that affects the quality of the roads or potholes occurring, it's the cold temperatures mixed with the wet weather as well.”

He said:“At the moment, yes, we do anticipate all our resources being focused on maintaining the network as they were last year.

“We are looking at the same challenges as last year.

“Our gangs are working around the clock, literally, with gritting as well, keeping the roads as clear as possible.”

More limited Central Government funding for road maintenance has “made the situation worse over the last couple of years,” Mr Oldfield said.

But being a top priority for residents, road maintenance budgets will not be cut, despite the Government's spending review, he said.

Twelve gangs of between two and four staff are out filling grit bins, repairing potholes and doing other winter maintenance work around the county.

Between June 21 and September 9, 4,359 pot holes were repaired, following an additional £2m secured from the Local Government Association in March.