Fed-up Geoff forks out for road repairs

Increasingly fed-up with the state of a pothole-scarred Staffordshire road, a councillor took the drastic step of putting his money where his mouth is.

Frustrated Geoff Martin forked out £2,500 himself to patch up the road in question in Rugeley. But his gesture could now backfire as he has been warned his generosity could see him facing legal action. Councillor Martin has represented the Etching Hill and Heath ward on Staffordshire County Council since June and has been a Rugeley town councillor for 10 years.

He decided to put his hand deep into his own pocket to repair Back Lane, in the town centre, where it enters a car park run by Cannock Chase Council.

Councillor Martin claimed there was endless buck-passing as the road was privately owned by the Earl of Lichfield's estate and for that reason Staffordshire County Council's Highways department, which has responsibility for public roads, was unable to carry out the repairs.

Frustrated with the impasse, the 65-year-old Conservative councillor, found a company to do the work and then stumped up the money.

He said: "The reason I funded the project myself was because of the safety and well-being of the people of Rugeley. This was dangerous not only to vehicles but to pedestrians as well."

He has also criticised the district council, adding: "I must say that I am appalled at the way Cannock Chase Council has handled this matter."

But Cannock Chase Council leader Neil Stanley said councillor Martin should not have acted without consent and he could have landed himself in hot water.

He said: "What he has done is possibly illegal and could result in action being taken against him by the owner.

"Also, when this council and the county council looked into the possibility of paying for repairs, we were told if we did, responsibility for maintenance and liability for any problems would fall on us."

No-one from the Earl of Lichfield's estate was available for comment.

By Nick Pritchard