Potholes could cost county council millions

A local councillor has warned that worn out and 'pothole peppered' roads could prove a major danger to motorists - and a major cost to the county council.
Writing on his blog, Northampton Borough Council member for West Hunsbury Paul Varnsverry has urged people to report unsafe and damaged roads to the county council's Street Doctor service.
Councillor Varnsverry says the damage to roads caused as a result of the recent cold snap must not become 'accepted as the norm'.
According to his post, wintry conditions in 2009/10 cost Northamptonshire County Council an extra £20million to repair the road network, as well as additional expense in dealing with claims from motorists whose vehicles were damaged due to negligence by the authority. Cllr Varnsverry believes the potholes created by the recent snow could be even worse.
He wrote: '...the size and number of potholes and other signs of deterioration which are appearing in Northampton’s highways infrastructure indicate a similar story - or worse - in 2011.
'The highways repair budget has been a ‘cash cow’, milked to fund other, more favoured schemes -  a state of affairs handed down across several political administrations. Previous estimates of the deficit in spending on the county’s roads were in the region of £300 million. The figure is possibly much higher now and in the current financial climate, the level of investment in Northamptonshire’s roads network which would be required to bring them up to standard is unlikely to be forthcoming.
'Worn out, pothole-peppered roads should not be accepted as the norm. The represent a danger to all road users - particularly those on two wheels.'
He urges people to report damage on the roads to The Street Doctor website at http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Transport/PEM/
'If you have noticed a dangerous road surface in your street, on your way to work or on another journey in or around Northampton, please take a few minutes to file an online report via this web site,' he added.
'Your action could prevent a friend, neighbour or member of your family from suffering an unwelcome repair bill - or worse'.