Anger at potholes boils over

91% OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE NOT NAPPY suit STATE OF CITY ROADS

- NEIL LANCEFIELD

PLYMOUTH is among a third of English council areas where public satisfaction with the state of local roads is no better than 10% because of the number of potholes which are still seen.

New research carried out by the AA shows that in 36 of a total of 96 local authority areas, no more than one in 10 residents 10% - were satisified when asked about the number of potholes.

The annual survey of more than 71,000 people asked residents if the state of their roads was better, worse or stable compared with a year earlier.

In Plymouth, just 9% of residents said they were satisfied with the state of roads, despite a programme of repairs by the ruling Labour group on the city council.

The AA described the figures as "dismal" and called for an end to the "vicious cycle" of potholes being patched up only to reappear.

As well as Plymouth, levels of satisfaction among residents whose roads are repaired by Devon County Council was also at a low of just 8%.

Torbay was at 7%.

Three councils, which cover East Sussex, Herefordshire and Nottinghamshire, received the lowest score of 5%.

At the other end of the scale, eight council areas achieved a score of at least 20%, such as Luton (24%), Manchester (24%) and Southwark, central London (35%).