Cheshire West and Chester Council are best in the business for tackling potholes

Feb 24 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

WHEN it comes to filling in holes Cheshire West and Chester Council is the best in the business.

That’s because the council is top in the UK for fixing reported pot holes – according to independent website ‘Fill That Hole’.

Compiled by national organisation, the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC), it shows the council is currently number one in a league table of more than 200 highway authorities.

Council leader Mike Jones said: “As part of our £12 million annual spend on highways, we have directly responded to what residents were telling us and have spent a further £1m fixing potholes.

“The recognition on this website confirms the priority that the council has placed on quickly addressing these defects on the highway.”

Councillor Lynn Riley, executive member for community and environment, said: “When the new authority started back in April 2009, our highways staff set a target of being the best in the country at fixing potholes.

“The CTC website is a welcome step in the right direction and whilst we are not saying that we have got rid of all of our potholes, it does tell us that we are the best in the country at dealing with those reported to us.

“The roads and footways across the borough are all regularly inspected but potholes can form very quickly.”

The council is waiting to hear if it will get a share of a £100m government pot to fill more potholes and improve road surfaces.

Reports about potholes, street lights, fly-tipping or blocked drains can be recorded directly via the Highway Faults page on CWAC’s website or by phoning the customer contact centre on 0300 123 7036.