Reform leader promises better roads in Derbyshire within a year
Figures show there are 66,000 potholes to be filled across the county
Derbyshire’s roads will be noticeably better within a year, Reform’s new leadership has claimed.
Yesterday (May 21), was Reform UK’s first meeting in charge of Derbyshire County Council and they faced early questions on what the public can expect to see in terms of road repairs.
“Potholes, potholes, potholes” was one of the key topics of debate during this year’s local election cycle, but Reform UK did not have a manifesto pledge on how to deal with this issue.
However, Cllr Charlotte Hill, new Reform cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport – who works at National Highways – said the administration would seek to immediately “accelerate the quantity and improve the quality of the works they are currently doing”.
Her role, overseeing the county’s roads, now includes a specific reference to potholes, unlike all previous administrations, in a bid from Reform to highlight leadership roles linked to their key priorities.
Cllr Hill, who represents the Melbourne & Woodville division, said: “We will be setting out detailed plans to fix the county’s potholes once we have had the opportunity to look at the state of our roads, current plans and available funding.
“I fully recognise the need to improve both the quality and quantity of highways repairs.
“We will be engaging with residents and councillors throughout the period of this administration to understand how we can make these improvements and work with the highways service to implement them.”
Asked about planned repairs to the junction of Station Road and the A6 in Furness Vale and Chapel Road in Whaley Bridge near the A5004 junction, by Whaley Bridge division councillor Ruth George, Cllr Hill said:
“You will understand that in the first days of the new administration, I have not had the opportunity to examine the detailed plans for resurfacing work across the county.”
She said tendering was under way and an update would be provided “once we have had an opportunity to discuss priorities with the highways service”.
Cllr Hill claimed there were currently 22 potholes per mile of Derbyshire roads and that the efficiency and tender process of highways contracts would be reviewed.
The county council oversees 3,000 miles of roads, which would mean there are 66,000 potholes to be filled across Derbyshire.
Cllr Alan Graves, Reform’s new council leader, who is also a Derby city councillor, pledged before the meeting: “Within a year there will be better roads (in Derbyshire).”
Opposition political groups have claimed that Derbyshire is the pothole capital of England, with RAC data claiming that just 1.1 per cent of the county’s minor roads and 4.9 per cent of its major A roads received maintenance in 2023.