Poll: New figures show big increase in potholes on local routes in Essex
Pothole - Credit: Archant
The road network in parts of Essex is deteriorating, with rising numbers of complaints about its condition, it has been claimed.
New figures show that while surface and structural defects on main roads have only slightly worsened from June to September, the situation has deteriorated on more ‘local’ roads.
Total reported defects on the local road network increased from 6,043 in June to 8,119 in September.
Four mostly rural districts showed increases of more than 50% in just three months – Maldon 78%, Uttlesford 77%, Tendring 64% and Braintree 55%.
Essex County Council, the highways authority, launched a new roads repairs centre at County Hall earlier this week.
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But James Abbott, Green Party group leader on the county council, said: “These figures show that the roads in Essex continue to get worse.
“In 2012 when the [highways] contract with Ringway Jacobs was announced, we were told by Essex County Council that the contract would ‘deliver greater value for money and a better local service for Essex residents’.”
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An Essex County Council spokesman said: “The figures released from our annual Road Condition Survey are part of Essex County Council’s commitment to being open about the condition of our road network and how we are prioritising funding for improvements.
“The figures actually show an improvement to the condition of our primary road network, compared with last year.
“Whilst we are doing everything we can to provide continued investment in our road network, we do have to be realistic and recognise that there will be limited funding streams available to us in the future.
“The slight decline in the condition of some of our local roads is a concern, and we are working to address this.”
