A single stretch of road in Cambridge has been patched 51 times, with residents questioning why the council keeps repairing potholes individually rather than resurfacing the whole area.
At the end of Aberdeen Avenue, near its junction with Brooklands Avenue, the road surface resembles a patchwork quilt of tarmac repairs. Residents have counted 51 separate fixes carried out as potholes appeared, leading to calls for a longer-lasting solution.
Residents question repair approach
Some residents have questioned whether repairing potholes individually is more profitable for contractors, although there is no evidence to support the claim.
Former councillor Dr Jocelynne Scutt said: 'Clearly, all could have been done as one major patch. Dedicated Highways workers now will stand aghast at this sort of money-grubbing practice that ought-to-be-stopped.'
Council defends its strategy
Cambridgeshire County Council insists that repairs happen as and when they are needed after safety inspections or reports from road users.
A spokesperson said: 'While resurfacing the entire area may be desirable, it can be more expensive and, with limited funding available, resurfacing schemes must be prioritised across the county based on need.'
Funding pressures and impact
Damage to vehicles from potholes costs the average driver around £500 in repairs.
Earlier this year, the government gave councils tougher rules to prove they are fixing potholes, or they could face losing up to a third of funding for next year.
Cambridgeshire recently approved £5 million to be spent on repairing the county's roads ahead of winter, though the council acknowledges that is not enough and repairs must be prioritised.
