Potholes getting worse since Rochdale Council took repair service in-house.

Councillor Andy Kelly, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Rochdale Council has observed that delays in fixing potholes and other road repairs are getting worse since Rochdale council took highway maintenance back in-house.

The authority ditched contractor Balfour Beatty in March this year in a move bosses said would give it more ‘control and flexibility’ over the ‘vital service’, and it was also claimed the change would be more cost-effective in the long-term and support the council’s green agenda by bringing modern and efficient machinery into its fleet.

Councillor Kelly, told the council on Wednesday night that the new set-up was failing to deliver, stating that it is taking an “absolutely ridiculous amount of time for the council to carry out road repairs.”

“Why does it take two years to get anything done in our ward?” asked the Milnrow councillor.