Council launches major £7.7 million pothole work

A local authority has launched a near £8 million pothole and road repair scheme.

Gateshead Council says it will tackle the borough's transport routes over the next five years.

The move follows thousands of pothole repairs at more than 4000 locations last year, with officials saying the funding will also support innovative repair technology to make fixes more durable and efficient.

Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for transport and highways, said: “Good roads affect everyone across the borough, which is why we are investing more money into maintaining and repairing our roads network.

“Our roads come under a lot of stress due to increased traffic, heavier modern vehicles and general wear and tear. 

“Changing weather patterns also have an impact on road surfaces.

“The extra money we are investing means we will be able to build on last year’s successful programme, fix more roads and really make a difference to local people.”

The move comes as the Government requires councils to publish annual pothole progress reports to access full highway maintenance funding, with £1.6 billion allocated nationally from April.

Councillor Martin Gannon, Gateshead Council leader, added: “We welcome any extra investment from the Government, especially for our roads and highways as we know this is a big area of concern for residents. 

“We are already demonstrating how much this matters by investing our budget in innovative ways to tackle pothole repairs more efficiently and effectively.”

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