End of the road for pot holes in Somerset?

ROADS around Somerset are to receive a £5-million boost from the Department of Transport - much-needed to rid the county of pot holes galore.

The money will be used for essential maintenance to increase resilience and extend the life of Somerset’s roads.

The news is particularly welcome after recent flooding devastated parts of the county and left huge bills for Highway bosses.

Somerset County Council's highways spokesman, Cllr Harvey Siggs, said: “This windfall couldn’t have come at a better time.

''The extra £5-million will be spent on responding to the damage caused by the recent flooding and improving the conditions and life of our roads.”

Costs for flood repairs are likely to top £1-million, including £100,000 on emergency repairs and clean-up during the storms, £70,000 on extra drain and gully cleaning and £375,000 on repairs to roads and bridges.

Cllr Siggs said: “Last year was the second wettest year since rainfall records began meaning road surfaces across Somerset have been more badly affected by wear and tear than would usually be expected.

''Crews have been busy fixing pot holes and resurfacing our roads, and they will continue to do so. In 2012 we repaired well over 20,000 potholes, completely resurfaced 26 miles of road and surface dressed a further 200 miles.”

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