'Thanks - but it's only half a job' - Residents question pothole repairs on Lancashire's 'worst adopted road'

Last month The Post highlighted the state of Green Lane and connected Newgate Lane in Whitestake, which was littered with deep potholes, crumbling asphalt, and jagged edges where previous repairs had failed.

Residents said the area was “virtually undriveable” and they were being forced to out of their way to avoid the stretch of road, especially at night and in wet conditions, when the potholes were hard to spot, so not to damage their cars. Readers of the Post also commented it was dangerous for cyclists, and that there had been near-misses on the blind bend in Green Lane, with drivers veering onto the wrong side of the road to avoid craters.

On January 15, the Post asked Lancashire County Council (LCC) for a comment on the road condition, and a whether any repairs would take place. No response was given.

However, on Monday and Tuesday, workers closed off the road to make repairs. Residents were relieved - until they saw the job.

One resident of Newgate Lane, who asked not to be named, said: “They’ve been and laid new asphalt over the very worst parts, but then right next to a patch is a huge pothole that’s just been left. It just doesn’t make sense. Why do half a job?”

Another resident spoke to the contractors during the work. He said: “They were nice lads, but said they’d only been told to relay 12sqm. Infact they said they’d ended up covering 120sqm it was so bad, but it still isn’t enough.”

When a reporter from the Post went to the area, they found large patches of new road surface, with many other potholes left untreated - some in an L-shape leaving large pitted areas untouched.

LCC has once again been asked for a comment but has not acknowledged the request.

Contrary to what the highways boss said

But the way the potholes have been repaired in Green Lane and Newgate Lane flies in the face of a statement given by Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet member for highways and transport, in November, when he discussed a new pothole repair contract.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that one of the biggest changes residents would notice, was that clusters of potholes in close proximity to each other were now being filled in one visit – and were guaranteed to last for at least a year.

He said: “The electorate would be really confused when we went and did a pothole and within five feet there were four other potholes [that were left unattended]. But the important thing is we [also now] do permanent repairs. We don’t want to go back to them – and the contract stipulates that [there is] a 12-month guarantee on [the work].

“So that old thing of potholes lasting five [or] six weeks and being broken up – and really making [people wonder] why have we bothered to do that in the first place – [is] gone,” County Cllr Goldsworthy said.

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