Repairing potholes like 'darning fishnet tights'

A council's approach to fix potholes has been compared to "trying to darn a pair of fishnet tights" by an opposition councillor.

Somerset Council is receiving daily reports of potholes emerging across its road network, following the cold snap in early January and the persistent wet weather in recent weeks.

Councillor Lucy Trimnell said Somerset's road network was "rapidly deteriorating" and urged the council to take a more proactive approach to ensure motorists were not hit by costly repair bills.

The authority said it was dealing with "unprecedented" demand and that additional resources were being allocated to ensure potholes were fixed quickly and competently.

Trimnell raised the issue when the council's executive committee met in Taunton on Wednesday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She said: "In Wincanton and Bruton, people have been telling me they have faced costs of anywhere between £200 and £800 for repairs to tyres, wheels and even suspension components.

"Simply carrying out pothole repairs is like trying to darn a pair of fishnet tights."

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said council contractors were working flat out to fix the damage caused by Storm Chandra and related weather events.

He urged residents to be patient, saying the council was dealing with a huge amount of reported road defects.

Wilkins added: "As with other parts of the country, the recent cycle of wet and freezing conditions has led to a sudden deterioration in many roads."

Somerset's road network was ranked as being among the best maintained in mainland Britain by the Department for Transport in mid January – before much of the worst of the wet weather hit the county.

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