£83m repair blitz heralds new roads strategy

A POTHOLE repair blitz is set to roll out across parts of Devon as the county council trials a radical new approach to road maintenance under a sweeping £83 million programme.

- by LEWIS CLARKE

Councillors recently backed the move during a cabinet meeting where they approved capital funding for highway repairs across England’s largest road network, spanning 8,000 miles. The new pilot will see all potholes filled in selected trial areas, rather than just those classed as safety defects.

Cabinet member for highways, Councillor Dan Thomas, said the condition of the county's roads was far from acceptable, citing chronic underfunding from the Government.

"We're being very honest that the state of the roads is not as we would want; that’s our starting point," he said.