New MP and council clash over potholes contractor

Gen Kitchen has raised questions about the highway contractor's performance

The new MP for Wellingborough and Rushden has written an open letter to a council, asking it to do more to tackle potholes.

Labour MP Gen Kitchen contacted the Conservative leader of North Northamptonshire Council to ask if its arrangement with contractor Kier would be extended.

The council said the contractor had improved since concerns were raised earlier this year.

It said it was investing an additional £9m into roads over the next three years.

Ms Kitchen wrote: "Many local people feel that the service being provided by the contractor has not been satisfactory and that taxpayers are not receiving value for money."

She added that some of the repairs to potholes had been "subpar" and further repairs were needed.

Her letter was raised during the council's executive meeting on Thursday.

The executive member for highways, Matt Binley, told the meeting: "We are holding them to account, we are driving forward performance.

"When somebody says that the repairs being carried out are subpar, I don't understand what facts are being used."

Jason Smithers said if a road repair failed then Kier footed the bill for any remedial work

Leader of the council Jason Smithers said: "We did hold Kier's feet to the fire about eight months ago.

"I made it very clear that we weren't happy about their level of performance and they've stepped up.

"They've increased their activity, they've ensured that our highways are managed well, they've insured they are repairing things to the best of their ability."

There were calls from both councillors for the MP to hold her own party to account over the funding promised under the previous Conservative government.

But Ms Kitchen said she already spoken to the government about increased funding for road repairs and joining a pilot for new maintenance schemes.