Nottinghamshire County Council’s ongoing drive to improve the county’s roads has stepped up a gear with the introduction of eight additional teams to carry out first-time permanent repairs.
The council says it will deliver high-quality, permanent repairs on the very first visit wherever possible – reducing repeat visits, improving durability and making better use of resources.
The dedicated teams form part of the council’s record-breaking £122.5 million investment package in Nottinghamshire’s roads – with more significant funding set to follow – and are being rolled out across all seven boroughs and districts in Nottinghamshire.
First-time permanent repairs will see teams cut out potholes, fill them with hot material wherever possible, properly compact it down and seal the edges with a clean finish.
Whilst some urgent safety repairs will still be needed in certain situations, including locations where larger improvement works are planned, residents can expect to see the new approach used widely across the county.
Council leader Councillor Mick Barton, Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, and Councillor John Semens, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, visited the Via East Midlands’ Bilsthorpe Depot on Tuesday morning to give the teams a send-off.
The council now has more than 130 people carrying out repairs on the highways, having worked with highways partner Via East Midlands to bring on board the eight teams from three of Via’s delivery partners to carry out repairs, in addition to the in-house teams which are already maintaining Nottinghamshire’s roads.
Cllr Barton said: “We are committed to improving Nottinghamshire’s roads and that is why we have introduced a new approach to fixing potholes with first-time permanent repairs.
“I was delighted to meet the teams who will be working tirelessly across Nottinghamshire to make sure the roads are in a serviceable condition and to the standards residents demand.
“People will see a massive difference in terms of repairing the roads. We are dealing with the problem we’ve got, and we are dealing with it head-on; therefore, Nottinghamshire residents will see a big difference this year.
“Having three local companies delivering these repairs is also good news for the Nottinghamshire economy. It is keeping money local, highlights our commitment to supporting local jobs and helps us to build lasting partnerships – which is what residents expect of us.”
The introduction of the new crews comes after the council unveiled its six-point plan to address the backlog of repairs and the deteriorating condition of the county’s highways network.
The new plan, which has been published as part of the Highways Capital and Revenue Programmes, includes:
Prevent problems early by treating roads sooner;
Carry out permanent repairs on the first visit wherever possible;
High-quality fixes using longer-lasting materials and methods;
Improve efficiency and get better value from crews and equipment;
Strengthen winter resilience with extra crews working through the season for the first time;
Make the case for increased long-term funding from central government.
A £2 million programme of permanent repairs has already got underway and is delivering improvements at urgent hotspots across Nottinghamshire.
Cllr Bingham said: “We know people have not been happy with Nottinghamshire’s roads for several years, but we are confident that the six-point plan, together with the largest investment Nottinghamshire County Council has made in our highways, will enable us to get them into a good condition and fit for purpose.
“As I have said previously, this record-breaking investment follows a lengthy period of underfunding and will enable us to do more first-time permanent repairs and provide a greater focus on preventative maintenance to stop potholes forming in the first place.
“First-time permanent repairs are about doing what the network needs – delivering durable, high-quality repairs where appropriate, while maintaining safety and flexibility across the wider maintenance programme.
“Alongside preventative works and larger resurfacing, they will become commonplace in Nottinghamshire.
“It means there will be a significant reduction in urgent safety repairs, but it is important to acknowledge that there are still places where these will be needed.”
