Pothole repair trial approved in parts of Devon

A seven-week trial has been set up by Devon County Council for changes to its pothole repair procedures

Changes to pothole repairs are being trialled in parts of Devon.

The trial involves safety inspectors recording and repairing all potholes within 500m (1,640ft) of a reported pothole they are attending.

Devon County Council approved plans during a full council meeting on Thursday to run a scheme in areas of Barnstaple, Hatherleigh, Chagford and North Tawton from 15 September until the end of October.

The authority said while not everything would be fixed, the trial would establish "the budget implications of taking a more proactive approach" to repairs and whether it led to a reduction in pothole reports.

Councillor Dan Thomas, cabinet member for highways, said improving Devon's roads was a priority for the authority.

He added the council had a £390m pothole repair backlog and needed £102m per year from the government to try to keep the roads in good order.

Mr Thomas said: "The frustrations you hear from people are that a workforce will go out and fill in one pothole but possibly don't fill in others that you would consider road defects, because they don't have them on their list.

"While they're out on the ground it makes sense for them to be looking to fill as many road defects as possible to ensure they're not having to go back in short order."