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A fix for potty roads?

Pamela Welsh
13/ 3/2008

OFFICIALS at Salford City Council have promised to fix up the city’s pot-holed roads by using money saved from tripping claims.

Tripping claim pay-outs in Salford have more than halved in three years, with related pay-outs down from £4.5m a year to £2m.

The money saved will pave the way to improving Salford’s highways in a five-year programme.

The council are unable to provide a definitive list of areas that will benefit, but say they will be putting in £22m to improve the roads in the city.

Cllr Derek Antrobus, Salford City Council’s lead member for planning said: "The cash spent on pavements has cut the number of people tripping. Our experience is that it is mainly the elderly who are at risk and a trip for them can prove very serious. Our investment has reduced that misery.

"We can use the money saved from claims to pay for the investment. We have cut claims faster than we expected and this means we can now turn our attention to potholes and poor road surfaces. We know this is high on the public agenda."

Last year, the council came under fire from industry insiders for their poor track record on road repair and the Advertiser featured roads across the city riddled with holes.

Residents say they have yet to be fixed, despite the council’s assurances they are doing all they can to repair the city’s roads.

Cracks in roads have to be 2ins deep to qualify for emergency repair.

Bill Taylor, managing director of Urban Vision, said: "The improvements we’re making are very much in response to local priorities and is an example of how the council and its partners do listen. The huge progress we’re making is already becoming evident through the huge fall in tripping claims. It’s a virtuous circle.

"The more we invest in our roads and pavements, the fewer tripping claims we receive, the less we have to pay out the more we have to re-invest in our highways."

Recently completed schemes include the resurfacing of Frederick Road, Agecroft Road Estate and Deans Road/Ellesmere Street in Swinton, which underwent a new road surfacing technique.

By the end of March, 65 streets in Salford will have benefited from this ‘Micro Asphalt’