Rotherham's potholes need £430,000 repairs

Any repeat of the snow and ice of nine months ago would see unrepaired surfaces worsen, increasing the cost of works and possible insurance claims.

Rotherham Borough Council fixed 10,000 potholes by March as part of £727,000 spent on the “priority” weather damage.

The rest will have to be deferred until 2011/12 unless funding or savings can be found within the Streetpride budget.

Community delivery manager Andy Shaw said: “We experienced a period of extreme winter weather that is reported to be the worst for 30 years.

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“The freeze/thaw action associated with this weather dramatically accelerated the deterioration of our highway network, leaving considerable lengths of carriageway in need of urgent repair.

“Immediately dangerous defects, in particular potholes, were given first priority. In the period from January to March almost 10,000 potholes were made safe, compared with 3,581 in the same period last year.

“Rapid inspection of the highways was carried out, with greater attention given to the precautionary gritting routes.”

In March the former Chancellor announced £100 million extra cash for councils, of which Rotherham’s allocation was £327,000.

Work continued by priority into the new financial year, and “phase two” of the repair programme will be completed by the end of this year.

Council considers streetlights switch-off.

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