THE chairman of Shropshire Council has confirmed that pothole repairs are on the way in Ellesmere, but has encouraged people to report them using a new online service.
Ann Hartley, chairman of Shropshire Council, spoke to Ellesmere Town Council on Monday, February 3 about the issue.
She says roads in the area have got so bad because funding for the council has been diverted to more important issues, such as child services.
"My personal opinion is that there has been a basic lack of funding and a basic lack of investment into highways, which has come to ahead here and nationally," said Ms Hartley.
"It all goes down to budget, we know that. Shropshire Council has literally had to prioritise vulnerable children and adults and that has soaked up all the resources. Unfortunately, it’s the sort of subject that no one ever canvases on.
"But potholes are something that is very topical. It’s writ large on everyone’s radar at the moment.
"The reporting mechanism is absolutely chaotic at the moment and there doesn’t seem to be a clear way of reporting into the council.
"What everyone is being encouraged to do is to report highways issues via myshropshire online. It is really, really efficient.
"Once you’ve logged a complaint you can track it and use it as evidence if someone says it has been filled in.
"Because it’s something being rolled out it hasn’t been encouraged, but it’s definitely up and running now and it is being encouraged."
The potholes will be treated using a new process, where potholes are cleaned out, filled with a unique material called TexPatch, then covered with a neat, square patch.
Shropshire council say this will provide a longer-lasting, smoother, neater finish compared to traditional pothole repairs.
And with the new technology, up to 50 potholes could be repaired each night, with the current rate around 20 per week.
The technology was initially trialled in Whitchurch and Market Drayton last year, but is now on its way to Ellesmere.
"The TexPatching machine is down south at the moment, but it’s on its way to Market Drayton and then to Ellesmere," added Ms Hartley.
To use the myshropshire service, visit www.shropshire.gov.uk/welcome-to-myshropshire
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