Council calls for government money to tackle masses of potholes in Staffordshire

Leaders in charge of Staffordshire's roads say the government must step up and make sure the county has enough money to tackle potholes.

Nearly 20,000 have been filled since Staffordshire County Council invested a further £8-million to fix them back in May.

The authority is concerned that the funding may not stretch sufficiently to address the vast nature of potholes and road issues that currently blight the county.

Mark Deaville, Staffordshire Council Council's cabinet member for strategic highways told Hits Radio News Chief Reporter Adam Smith:

"What we're doing now is we're just bringing the roads back to the condition to where they absolutely should be. We want to do much more. So I would implore that all of our Staffordshire MPs and indeed the transport secretary, all knock very firmly on the door of Rachel Reeves and request the money that we need.

"If the government give us the funding that we need to do much more, then we will repair more roads next year. 20,000 potholes this year, that's only a number. Key to it all is to make sustainable improvements to our roads, and key to it all is providing better service sand better road surfaces."

Thermal road repair machines and the popular JCB Pothole Pro have been sent out with crews to multiple locations across the county, including Codsall, Cheadle and the Moorlands in the first instance.

Mark continued: "Is this winter going to be any better than last? I doubt it. It could well be worse.

"The £186-million promised to Staffordshire through the Government's Network North plan over nine years would be a crucial boost, allowing us to address more potholes and road defects. We need clarity on this funding as soon as possible."