Road markings painted in potholes days before repairs

A council has been accused of wasting money after painting road markings over potholes just days before they were repaired.

Hampshire County Council painted the 'School Keep Clear' markings on the damaged carriageway of Sullivan Road, near Chalk Ridge Primary School, in Basingstoke.

Days later, another team from the council fixed the road - obliterating the work of the first group.

The council said repainting faded school markings is important for safety, but accepted the job should have been paused until after the repairs.

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrea Bowes, from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said she was "gobsmacked" by the blunder.

"It's such a ludicrous waste of money, almost to the point of being farcical," she said.

"I was horrified to the point of laughter. It's a case where, if you don't laugh, you're going to cry."

Bowes said better communication within the council could have prevented the error.

She continued: "This is different departments within the same council and they're obviously just not talking to each other.

"It doesn't take much - an email or a memo just saying 'we're going to be doing this on this day, is there anything we need to know?'."

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: "Recent weather conditions have caused road defects to appear more rapidly across the county, and in some cases, issues develop after works are scheduled but before they take place.

"Our highways team work hard to carefully coordinate and deliver hundreds of repairs every day, and we recognise that, ideally, the re-lining should have been paused to allow the repair to be completed first.

"However, re-painting fading road markings is important to reduce risks outside schools, so the crew proceeded as planned."

The council said it was now preparing to repaint the school markings on the road.

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