Ice cracking up the roads

A councillor is predicting damaged roads and retaining walls after the predicted thaw starts this week in Oldham.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, shadow cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, is calling on Oldham Council to make funds available for repairs.

He said: “Snow and water has found its way into existing cracks in the road surface and as it refreezes it expands and breaks the surface into pieces.”

He said the problem is already in evidence on roads across the borough, from Chadderton to Saddleworth, where previous pothole repairs have not been carried out correctly and gone without joints being resealed with tar.

He added: “This leaves a gap which allows water to enter.

“The result of poorly filled in potholes or long standing disrepair, together with the recent bad weather will take some fixing, the council needs to get a grip of this and make additional funds available.

“Not only are roads affected but also retaining walls where stones have become loose and need repair.

The bill could be tens of thousands.”