'Pothole capital of UK' will trial locally built JCB to repair county's roads

A JCB pothole machine will be trialled in Derbyshire in a bid to boost the quality and longevity of road repairs across the county.

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

The Rocester-based firm has made an agreement with Derbyshire County Council to trial one of its £200,000 Pothole Pro machines imminently, Reform leader Cllr Alan Graves has confirmed.

This follows a visit by members of the Reform administration to the JCB factory in August and a visit by national leader Nigel Farage in the weeks before this year’s local elections.

Cllr Graves said: “Following a visit to the JCB factory last month by Councillor Charlotte Hill (cabinet member for highways), Councillor Robert Reaney (deputy leader) and Councillor Carol Wood (cabinet member for net zero and environment), with representatives from the highways service, the firm has offered to demonstrate one of their Pothole Pro machines on Derbyshire roads.

“We are working with JCB to finalise the most appropriate time for a demonstration.