Lymington and Pennington Town Council calls on Hampshire County Council to fix pothole-riddled roads

“ENOUGH is enough” Lymington councillors have blasted as they demanded the county sort out the town’s pothole-riddled roads.

Presenting a motion to the full town council, Cllr Jerry King, the Lib Dem member for Buckland ward, said the area’s roads are “atrocious”.

He continued: “I think people have had enough. We’re now paying more and more in council tax money than ever and getting fewer and fewer quality services in return.

“We’re simply not getting value for money on maintaining the roads, and enough is enough.”

Cllr King’s motion, seconded by fellow ward and party member Cllr Hannah Philips, noted the county council is currently consulting on the future of local services until 31st March.

It states: “(The) county council plans to cut £7.5 million per year from its road maintenance budget. This council believes our local roads are already poorly-maintained.

“Residents feel ignored and have been left, literally, paying the price for the terrible state of our local roads.

“Further cuts to road maintenance will only make the situation worse.”

The motion concluded by calling on the town council to oppose further cuts to road maintenance, with an amendment calling for better management and maintenance of drains and ditches.

Independent Pennington member Cllr Martina Humber agreed with the motion “wholeheartedly” adding she has heard “quite a few complaints” about potholes.

She told the council she has also been informed the county council’s pothole patching works are often “ineffective” and “made worse by flooding”.

She said: “Water comes up through patched sections of road and lifts the tarmac back up. It needs to be done properly, not just patched up.”

Conservative Lymington ward member Cllr Barry Dunning said he also supported the motion, adding: “We need to say something because the roads are very bad.

“Most roads on the Forest were dirt tracks until the 1920s. The roads built on top of those routes now have to deal with huge lorries delivering to Tesco. This is happening now that we are getting worse weather on a regular basis, and we now have heavy vehicles smashing up our roads.”

Lib Dem Buckland ward member Cllr Ted Jearrad said: “It’s a huge problem, I’ve had people complaining about it. It’s not acceptable and more should be done.”

Councillors voted in favour of sending the motion to the county council.

Following the meeting, Lymington mayor Cllr Jack Davies, said: “When you see the state of our roads, it’s no wonder people feel taken for granted and ignored by the government and the county council.

“Local people just want public services, like road maintenance, to be properly funded.”