Efficiency and quality of road repairs questioned by Staffordshire councillors

Road repairs once again proved a talking point at Staffordshire County Council’s full meeting – with the quality of repairs in Stone also causing concern about value for money.

In his leader’s statement, Councillor Philip Atkins, reported that the warm weather has meant crews have stepped up their pothole repair work across the county – and members have been identifying projects in their areas to spend the £20,000 they have each been allocated towards road improvements.

But the way repair work is carried out in places where there is more than one defect came into question.

Councillor Ron Clarke said: “If the crews are out there have they got flexibility? If they see obviously there is another pothole there which has not been marked up by the inspector do they use their discretion on filling it in?

“My answer to that question is no. I do not believe we are working as efficiently as we can.

"It’s not a criticism against the crews, but while they're out there and they can see something obvious let them get on and do the work because it is costing us more money going back and doing similar potholes and I think we can do better.”

Councillor Julia Jessel said: “We do need to address this problem where one pothole gets reported but others in the close vicinity don’t get repaired at the same time. I think there is common sense and I think perhaps the crews on the ground could be allowed a certain amount of discretion.

“It’s something that’s niggled a lot of us and while the online system is very efficient you can only report one pothole at a time, so multiple potholes in a close proximity it’s not suited for.”

Councillor Jill Hood, who represents the Stone Urban ward, raised concerns about the quality of repairs carried out in the town centre – which had meant that return visits had to be made.

She said: “I was delighted to meet my new highways officer and arranged to meet her in Stone town so I could show her where I wanted my money spending.

“I’m complaining because I took her to the High Street where I wanted to show her a bollard had been knocked down. When we got there it had been repaired – and I say that laughingly – she stuck her foot in the repair and the Tarmac came out.

“As she was in the process of doing that the team came again and said they would come back to put a cone on the repair, so that was two visits. She asked them what they were going to do about the state of the repair and they said they would come back a third time to make good the repair. That was three times they visited that site that day.

“I took her up to a footway to show her that needed repairing. It had been done – and I say that laughingly. She was appalled at the state of the repair and immediately contacted them to say they had to come back and do it.

“The point that I’m making is that I believe we are wasting money because these crews who are doing these repairs are having to come back two or three times and they’re making substandard repairs and it’s appalling."

Cabinet member Councillor Mark Deaville said: “The point about a little common sense if you’re in the area (to) do any other defects in the area – of course they should do that.

“Sadly Mrs Hood didn’t see that excellent service we expect and we should see. We will take that up.”