TWO Lib Dem councillors have slammed huge delays in fixing potholes in Brentwood.


David Kendall, leader of the Lib Dem group on Brentwood Council, wrote to senior officers at Essex County Council demanding to know when potholes will be fixed and complaining about the amount of information made available to councillors and residents.

He said: "The situation is now out of control. o highlight two examples in Brentwood West alone, we had a pothole in Victoria Road that waited 20 months for repair outside an elderly home and a children's play area.
 

"It looks like we are facing the same situation again with a six inch deep pothole in Brook Road still waiting for repair eight months after it was reported by councillor Karen Chilvers.
"The potholes are inspected and marked out and then no-one seems to have the faintest idea when the repair will actually take place."
 

The Liberal Democrat group has welcomed an £11m additional budget for pothole repairs but fears the cash will simply be used to catch up on what should have been done and they question how far the money will stretch across the county.
 

Mr Kendall added: "Meanwhile, residents remain in a dangerous situation of swerving to avoid potholes, driving over them and causing damage to their cars and causing injuries when crossing roads or walking on pavements.
"It is simply not good enough."
 

A county council spokesman said detail of where the £11million will be spent can be found at www.essexhighways.org/Roadworks-Centre/Potholes.aspx.


He added: “We would like to assure residents and the local community that we are committed to improving the condition of the county’s roads, which have been affected by recent extreme weather conditions.
“The potholes in Victoria Road and Brook Road are due for repair within the next three weeks.
“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”