Council leader defends approach to pothole repairs

The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has defended his administration's record on fixing potholes - saying the authority has done what it can with the resources and finances available.

Residents have complained roads around the county have been left riddled with potholes this winter following a recent spate of cold and wet weather.

Councillor Mick Barton said the state of the roads was now "an emergency" for the Reform UK-led authority after decades of underfunding left some stretches of asphalt looking like "moon landscapes".

"I'm a frustrated motorist just like a lot of people," he said.

He said: "We've got a three-year plan. We do need lots of money to resolve it, and we're doing new working practices."

Nottinghamshire County Council plans to spend £153m on permanent road repairs over the next three years.

It was given an additional £46.9m funding for pothole repairs from the East Midlands Combined County Authority for the 2026/27 financial year.

But Barton said the council needs "at least" £400m to bring the county's roads back to a satisfactory standard.

"Various governments over the last 20 years have pulled funding year upon year," he said.

"We used to have repair teams in all the districts across the county. They [previous council administrations] stopped that and pulled it all into one pool for the county.

"There should have been lots of maintenance carried out during those years."

He added: "If we get some extra funding, we'll do some more roads."

Barton said the council also plans to introduce new ways of working, including a stop to categorising potholes and adopting "right first-time approach" to repairs.

"At the minute we categorise certain potholes [based on severity and location]," he added.

"If we get the money, and Via [the council's highways management partner], the experts, agree with it, I don't want a category. If somebody reports a pothole I want it fixed."

Barton said they have also made sure workers have the right tools as part of the new "right first-time approach".

He added: "Members of the public have been getting in touch with us for the last few months saying we can't have somebody going with a bag, just tipping it in a hole, and tapping it in with a foot.

"So now they have professional kit, and we hope it's stopped."

However, councillor Sam Smith, leader of the opposition Conservative group, said he felt Barton could not defend the condition of the roads because "they're absolutely atrocious".

He said Reform UK's £153m planned budget for the next three years was less than the previous Conservative administration had budgeted for highways - and the "right first-time approach" was a copy of Conservative policy introduced in 2021.

Smith added: "On Thursday, I and the Conservatives will be proposing an amendment to Reform's budget to increase the highways budget by £90m because we understand that it is the number one priority for the residents of Nottinghamshire."

The council leader advised motorists to take photographs of any pothole they want to report, as well as take a picture of any damage caused.

These details can then be included in the council's online pothole reporting form.

"If somebody's broken a wheel, it will get filled in within 24 hours. Or it should do, and if it isn't, get in touch with us and we'll make sure it gets filled," Barton said.

"I've got a job to do [fixing potholes], and so have my fellow councillors."

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