Good news for those (all of us) who are fed up with trying to avoid potholes like an obstacle course. Staffs County Council are tackling 40,000 potholes around the county in a major blitz on our roads.
The drive is part of a £15 million extra investment in highways over the next two years, with 14 new crews being brought in to help tackle the backlog. The focus is on lower-level defects that may not be dangerous but cause daily frustration for drivers and residents.
The funding is also being used to trial newer repair methods such as screeding and urban velocity patching, giving crews the right tools for different types of job. In June alone, 4,655 defects were repaired across the county.
What kind of potholes are being targeted?
The campaign concentrates on so-called "category 3" defects, those that do not require an immediate response but are still a nuisance. Fixing 40,000 of these represents a 25% increase on the average number repaired each year over the previous five years.
Councillor Peter Mason, the county's Strategic Highways lead, said the work was already showing results: "We hope that residents will see a real difference in their communities, and motorists will benefit from better journeys around the county."
Council Leader Martin Murray added: "Good roads matter to people, businesses and communities right across Staffordshire. Fixing 40,000 potholes is an ambitious target, but it shows our determination to improve journeys and keep Staffordshire moving."
For Gnosall residents, that means the roads in and around the village, including the key routes into Stafford, could (fingers crossed) be in line for attention. If you spot a pothole locally, you can report it via the Staffordshire County Council website.
Source: staffordshire.gov.uk
