On ‘National Pothole Day’, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, is calling on the Scottish Government and Local Authorities to invest more in reducing and preventing the number of potholes on our roads.
National Pothole Day is being ‘celebrated’ on the 8th of March and motorists are being encouraged to share photos of bad potholes on twitter.
The Scottish Conservative MSP is concerned that the recent bad weather could result in bigger-than-ever potholes for Perth and Kinross, Fife, Clackmannanshire and Stirling.
Potholes are formed by the expansion and contraction of ground water after it enters the surface. Heavy snowfall followed by a rapid thaw can be particularly bad for road surfaces.
The Conservative administration at Perth and Kinross Council recently reclassified pothole diameters to ensure more are filled and Murdo is calling on other local authorities to follow suit.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“There is no better time to raise awareness about the shocking state of our roads than on ‘National Pothole Day’.
“The recent bad weather is not only causing issues for rail links and water mains but will no doubt result in new potholes appearing across our roads.
“The Scottish Government looks after our major trunk roads and I would encourage them to make it a priority to fill any new potholes that have emerged over the past week.
“Ultimately, local authorities need proper investment from the Scottish Government to ensure that they have the resources to properly care for road surfaces and this clearly isn’t happening.
“It’s also important that local authorities and roads agencies invest in the best equipment for repairing surfaces. Infra-red gas patchers are expensive but perform better than traditional fillers and local authorities should be encouraged to invest in this type of equipment.
“The state of our roads is still one of the most pressing issues for people across Mid-Scotland and Fife and we should use National Pothole Day to send a strong message to those in charge.”