Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell joined a county council pothole repair team this week to see how the authority is using extra government money to improve the highways.
Caroline went to Victoria Drive in the town to meet with East Sussex County Council’s head of operations Karl Taylor and Nicola Blake from contractor Balfour Beatty to see how the work is bringing roads back up to standard.
Over £18 million of extra council and government funding is now being used to repair the holes and ESCC is fixing 30,000 a year across the county, the MP was told.
Karl explained the primary cause of road damage is surface water, rain and utility company damage and that things have been particularly challenging this year following a very wet winter.
Caroline was taken through the process used to prioritise pothole repairs, from two hours to 28 days depending on severity.
She was told of the work of the Highways Steward but how residents reporting highway defects through the council's online reporting system plays an important part in ensuring they are picked up quickly and programmed in.
She then viewed workers repairing a large pothole in the road and was told all the broken highway was taken back and recycled into building material.
“Many thanks to the county council for arranging for me to see first-hand its pothole fixing work in our town,” said Caroline.
“Potholes are beyond unsightly and irritating, they can damage vehicles and worse, sometimes they can even be dangerous.
“I am pleased substantial extra government and county council funding has been dedicated into fixing this problem. With a new contractor, I now anticipate a new pace and a high standard of repair too. From my postbag, I know it is something that concerns residents, I’ve lobbied for more action and it was reassuring to see work in progress.
"I will keep reporting online and urge residents all across the town to join me so potholes can be assessed and fixed as quickly as possible.”
