Community council chair calls for new strategy on pothole repair
The chairman of an Easter Ross community council has branded Highland Council repairs to potholes as 'not fit for purpose'.
Alastair Gill, chair of Balintore & Hilton Community Council, is calling for a rethink on the method used by Highland Council to repair damage to the roads in and around the village.
Members of Highland Council's Easter Ross area committee confirmed that the surface dressing of approximately 2900m on the B9165 Fearn to Balmuchy Road had been prioritised during 2023/24 – but the B9166 Fearn to Balintore road, which Mr Gill believes is in a worse state, was not included.
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He said: "Our residents are fed up of punctures and damage to their cars. We understand that funding has been agreed for the Fearn to Balmuchy road - but not the Fearn to Balintore road, which is worse. Some of these potholes are now a metre long. They have agreed to do emergency repairs, but the point I am making now is that the repairs carried out each year are not fit for purpose.
"The Highland Council roads department give the potholes a quick clean out, pour in the tar, level and flatten it and off they go. They are not cutting out the damage and sorting it properly. Most of these repairs are only lasting 2 or 3 months."
Mr Gill has worked as a health and safety advisor for several construction firms over the years - and in his experience he believes that a contractor should be hired to carry out the repairs needed.
He added: "I have heard the blame being placed on the recent bad weather we have had – but we need to look at the quality of the repairs. We will always have spells of bad weather.
"The companies I have worked with core the repair to test the quality, thickness and depth of the compaction in the tar. A contractor will cut it out, compact it, take out and replace the material, use a compactor, level it off then seal it before adding tar and using a road roller to finish the job. There would then be a quality process which came with a guarantee
"The council could reap the benefit in the long run by getting the work done by a contractor, who will guarantee the work, and avoid the need for repeated repairs and expense."
A council spokesman said: “Our focus has been providing a seven days a week winter maintenance service. Once the weather improves maintenance works will be carried out in line with resources.”
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