For four years, I have been been calling for more action to tackle the state of our roads after years of neglect by subsequent Tory and Labour administrations at County Hall. Miraculously just days before the election this Thursday the Conservatives have announced they intend to alter the way in which they repair roads.

Our campaign to repair potholes has brought results. Not only are potholes being repaired now after Peter Harris and the Focus Team have reported them in, but the Conservatives at County Hall have announced a change of policy on how potholes are to be repaired properly
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Residents say they want a County Councillor who will listen to their views, keep in touch and get things done, all year round, not just at election time.

For some time residents and I have been saying that the way in which the current County Council policy has failed. Potholes have been filled in, with little preparation, before hand. Asphalt has been tipped into wet potholes and then just tamped down. In some cases witnessed by residents, the tamping has been done by the tyres of the road menders lorry!

In many holes this has just meant a repeat visit just a few months later. As many people have pointed out this is a real waste of money, as repeated ‘fills’ are more expensive than a proper repair in the first place.

Now the Conservatives have announced that have ‘found’ £1m extra for filling the many potholes in Southwell and the villages’ roads.  Local residents are not fooled. They can see this for what it is – a desperate pre-election promise in bid to avoid defeat.

The HIghways Dept have also said that they propose to change the way in which potholes will be filled – with proper preparation and the hole, including cutting out, and tarring the edges of the new surface to seal it from water ingress.

I really welcome this change of heart. It’s good to see things that local residents and Lib Dem Councillors have been pressing for finally being put into action. If elected as your new County Councillor, I will fight for action across our area right throughout the year – not just the weeks leading up to the election!