A temporary solution is being used to tackle the problems of potholes on roads in Lichfield and Burntwood.

Staffordshire County Council confirmed that the temporary measures were being put in place until permanent repairs could be carried out.

The recent cold spell has led to a number of problems with potholes across the region, with around 1,200 new ones being identified – six times the normal number on record.

And now the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Mike Maryon, has written to parish councils asking for their patience.

Cllr Maryon said:

“I have received complaints from parish councils and members of the general public about the quality of our pothole repairs. I have now written directly to every parish council to explain the health and safety reasons why we need to do temporary fixes. They are not attractive but they do the job and stop our roads being a danger to car users.

“I am equally frustrated with the current situation but we are dealing with a legacy of under investment in our roads. The quality of our roads, especially in the rural areas, is not good.

“Whilst we are investing an extra £30 million on highways maintenance over three years, doubling the planned highways investment, we still have the same size team repairing the roads so the change will not happen over night. This problem caused by the snow adds a new dimension. I can reassure Staffordshire residents that we hear their concerns and we are working hard to sort out the problem.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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bob smith
14 years ago

The hard winter has not only shown the weakness of the road fabric in Staffordshire but it has also highlighted the poor quality of work undertaken when applying surface dressing to already crumbling road surfaces. Beacon Street Area Residents Association complained to Staffordshire County Council about the poor quality of work undertaken last summer when Beacon Street was dressed! needless to say the surface has lifted leaving many surface flaws with loose gravel continually being thrown up on to adjacent pavements. Cheap solutions will alway result in long term costs!

Steve
14 years ago

I couldn’t agree more Bob.

The islands Skoda garage in Chase Terrace are extremely appalling. The surface dressing has almost disintegrated in places leaving stone chips all over the roads.