Lancashire's Politicians Prepare to fix Pendle's Pothole Problem
The problem has previously perplexed passers-by
Lancashire County Council’s new political leadership, expected to be Reform UK with Ribble Valley’s Stephen Atkinson at the fore, is being urged to see the state of roads and pavements in Pendle.
The county council has responsibility for roads and pavements, which have been a recurring topic of debate over recent years at many local borough councils. Potholes, broken road surfaces, accusations of poor quality resurfacing work, repair priorities, winter gritting, road drainage and flooding have all been discussed in numerous Pendle Council meetings.
Finances have been part of the argument too, with claims from opponents that the Conservatives at County Hall were sitting on vast cash reserves and not spending money on much-needed road repairs.
In March this year under Conservative-control, Lancashire County Council promised to fix 126 roads over the next 12 months.
Conservative Robert Swarbrick, who had a transport remit, announced £61million for roads. But this month, Reform UK swept to power taking many county council seats.
Now, Pendle Lib-Dem Coun David Whipp, a borough and now a county councillor for the Pendle Rural division following this month’s elections, is calling on County Hall representatives at Preston to visit Pendle.
He is being supported by fellow Lib-Dem Andy Bell, a newl Vivary Bridge borough councillor who was pictured on a motorcycle at his election. They have put forward a motion about roads and pavements to the next full meeting of Pendle Council this month.
Their motion states:
“Pendle Council welcomes the promise by the new administration at Lancashire County Council to properly repair every pothole.
Accordingly, this council resolves to invite the appropriate new cabinet member at Lancashire County Council to visit Pendle to see some of the potholed highways, accompanied by representatives from all political groups on the authority.”
Under the Conservatives previously, Lancashire County Council defended its road works programme including its system for prioritising repairs. It said wear-and-tear from heavy vehicles and an increasingly wet climate all had a major impact.
Furthermore, there have been record rainfalls across the UK in recent years, which resulted in all councils, including Lancashire, having many more potholes to deal with than normal, it said. After repairs and preventative maintenance in summer 2024, it said the county council was back on track, with the vast majority of potholes and other defects being repaired within strict time limits.