Council must find extra cash to tackle the pothole crisis

Councillor Butterworth has launched a Repair the Roads campaign

Rochdale Council must find extra cash to tackle the pothole crisis.

That is the call from Milnrow and Newhey councillor Neil Butterworth ahead of the council’s budget meeting next month when the amount spent on local services will be fixed.

He is asking local residents to join his Repair the Roads campaign.

Councillor Butterworth says repairing the roads must be a priority and wants to see a big increase in cash spent on making them safe.

He said: “With the freezing weather and years of lack of investment, our roads and footpaths have never been worse. It’s the number one complaint from residents.

“I know it is a nationwide problem, and faced with big spending cuts from government, it is often the road repair budget that suffers the biggest reductions.

“It is a false economy. Lack of regular maintenance means we face much bigger bills down the line. Plus claims from motorists for damage to their cars and from pedestrians injured from falling because of holes in pavements have rocketed.

“Believe it or not, Rochdale is one of the better councils in finding the cash for highway repairs. Over £20million has been spent in recent years, but driving round the borough it is plain to see even this amount is nowhere near enough.

“With interest rates at a record low, the council could borrow several millions to transform the state of our roads. It would save money in the long run with reduced repair costs and far fewer expensive compensation claims from the public.

“Our roads are a disgrace and many are frankly dangerous. The council needs to adopt a radical solution rather than wasting time and money endlessly trying to patch up crumbling roads and pavements.”

Councillor Butterworth is asking residents to join his Repair the Roads campaign by contacting their local councillor to demand fixing footpaths and roads are made a priority, and to give local examples.