Residents slam embarrassing state of pothole-filled roads in Harrogate

Harrogate residents have slammed the '˜embarrassing' state of the town's roads and warned the government's £1.6m funding will not be enough to fix them.
Pothole on Harlow Hill - image by David SilkstonePothole on Harlow Hill - image by David Silkstone
Pothole on Harlow Hill - image by David Silkstone

Last week, the Department for Transport allocated £1.6m for pothole repairs across North Yorkshire’s 9,000km road network this year.

The money forms part of the Government’s £250m Pothole Action Fund aimed at improving the local road network, but a county councillor has raised doubts on how effective the funding will be.

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Coun Don Mackenzie, executive member for Highways, welcomed the funding but said it was still too ‘relatively small’ in order to fully tackle the region’s potholes.

He added the county faces a ‘substantial backlog’ of pothole complaints and residents have been quick to point out the scale of the problem in Harrogate.

Many residents have complained that the ‘sad state’ of Harrogate’s roads has resulted in damage to their cars and listed what, they believe, are the worst roads across the town.

Beckwith Road, Harlow Hill, Otley Road, Chatsworth Grove as well as the roads around Rossett and Ashville have all come under fire from disgruntled motorists.

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One motorist said she’s had to call the AA five times in the past 18 months after running into road problems travelling from Nidderdale to Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mandy Lotts said: “Most of my damage has been sustained on the Ripley to Pateley road but I have also sustained damaged alloys and tyre damage on the road running from the A59 to Darley.

“Generally, I think our roads are in a worse state than I’ve ever known them and you see the holes being patched but within weeks they’re back.”

In a speech on the future of funding for road maintenance, roads minister and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, explained the money councils received was based on their asset management performance.

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Mr Jones said that authorities which spend money on roads efficiently will be rewarded with extra funds and said he has seen ‘positive work’ from the county council.

He said: “Potholes are a significant public concern. We have seen some good work on filling potholes in North Yorkshire but there are also some roads in a poor condition.

“The motto that prevention is better than cure applies to our roads and we are backing that with this plan of rewarding what success looks like.”