With Hampshire’s highways teams repairing around 10,000 potholes each year and nearly 240 miles of roads and footways scheduled for improvements over the coming months, Hampshire County Council has one of the lowest pothole compensation rates per mile, of county councils in the South East.
Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “Our planned maintenance programme, Operation Resilience, is a long term strategy designed to ensure Hampshire’s road network is more resilient to the impact of heavy traffic and weather. We’ve put extra investment into this, around £10 million a year, and are seeing the results: Hampshire has one of the lowest pothole compensation claim rates per mile of road amongst all our neighbouring county councils in the South East.”
This planned maintenance approach uses the most appropriate treatment to extend the life of the road surface while getting the best value for money. Work includes reconstruction, asphalt dressing and full resurfacing. On top of this, around £1.5million is being invested, this year, into improving drainage under the roads so heavy and intense rainfall can drain away quicker.
Councillor Humby continued: “Well maintained roads are vital to the prosperity of Hampshire and the quality of life of the people who live and work here. However, all councils are facing considerable funding pressures and it really is time for the Government to properly support us to maintain this critical infrastructure. The country’s motorists contribute significant amounts to the Government through various taxes, and I do believe that some of this money should be made available to help improve the state of roads across the country.”
Details of Hampshire County Council’s Operation Resilience planned maintenance programme is available at: www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/plannedmaintenance
Potholes can be reported direct to the County Council online at: www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/potholes