THIS newspaper has been one of the fiercest critics of the county council over the spate of potholes on our roads which are driving motorists crazy. So it gives us some pleasure this week to congratulate councillors for their U-turn on their repair budget.

As we reported last month, the council was proposing to slash this budget in half from April to save £678,000. No one begrudges them trying to keep costs down, but to go ahead with this cut would have been risible in the current climate.

Thankfully common-sense prevailed and councillors announced this week they have found savings elsewhere.

Potholes, as residents’ association chairman Paul Cawte outlines on this page, present a serious safety hazard as well as causing damage to vehicles.

Every effort therefore must be made to ensure all of our roads are always in acceptable condition.

It is also appropriate not only to congratulate councillors for seeing common-sense, but to praise them as well for having the courage to reverse their decision.

There is a trend among politicians to be bloody-minded in the face of criticism, rather than admit they may have made an error.

Councillors could have put on their tin hats and taken the flak just to show they were in charge. They chose instead to do what was best for taxpayers, and for that we are truly grateful.