Pot hole wrangle

Potholes are the blight of many drivers' lives

A suggestion to help resolve issues over Oldham’s ongoing saga of potholes, has been rejected.

Cllr Howard Sykes, the leader of Oldham Council Liberal Democrats, said tests in another council area show potholes can be fixed four times quicker at half the cost with a new revolutionary machine.

The company JCB, with partners Stoke-on-Trent City Council, used Pothole Pro and Cllr Sykes, who has written to the Chief Operating Officer of Unity, the organisation responsible for fixing the borough’s roads, requesting it be brought to Oldham.

Councillor Sykes said: “Potholes represent a real bugbear for drivers and for cyclists.

"Not only do they make journeys uncomfortable, they also endanger lives and damage vehicles.  

“In a survey conducted last week for National Pothole Day, some residents reported road surfaces across Oldham that were badly in need of repair.

“Fixing potholes is a high priority for many of our council taxpayers, and they want to see them fixed effectively and quickly, but at a reasonable cost. 

“I believe early results from Stoke show Pothole Pro could be the fresh solution we are looking for – quicker and cheaper than current solutions - and I have asked it be brought to Oldham.”

He added:” And if it is as good as JCB claim, then maybe in next year’s survey we will only have happy residents and no reports of potholed streets.”

Responding, Cllr Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, said: "We know how strongly our residents feel about the upkeep of our borough’s roads, which is why we make repairing damaged road surfaces one of our top priorities.

“While we are always on the lookout for new ways to improve our service, we do already have a strong arsenal of equipment to repair our roads, including our Jet Patcher and mechanical attachments, which when attached to our repair fleet, provide similar benefits to the equipment that has been suggested we invest in.

“The Jet Patcher is tried and tested, and has been found to be so successful that we have invested in a second unit.”

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.