'Plague for drivers' - Council unveils new £230,000 pothole repair machine in multi-£1m road investment
Gateshead Council has unveiled a new £230,000 pothole repair machine as part of a multi-million pound investment plan to improve the area’s roads.
The new piece of kit, named the Pothole Pro, can reportedly fix holes in just eight minutes at half the cost of traditional methods. The local authority has officially announced the arrival of the Pothole Pro which it is hoped will help with the efficiency of the 10,000 road repairs undertaken by the council every year.
The Pothole pro is a 3 in 1 machine which cuts, crops and cleans, reducing the need for additional specialist equipment and manpower. Between 2021 and 2024, 4,915 pothole queries were reported to the council by the general public.
Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Since April our crews have fixed 2,500sqm of road but we want to do more. The Pothole pro is one way for us to do that. I’m looking forward to residents seeing the difference this will make over the coming months and we will share updates on the benefits it brings to our local communities.”
Lib Dem opposition leader and councillor Ron Beadle said: ‘Potholes are a plague for drivers but before spending huge amounts of money on a single piece of kit the Council should road test or rent it to test whether it does what it says and if it is susceptible to break downs. There must be a back-up plan if so.’
According to Gateshead Council the Pothole Pro has a five-year service plan and warranty.
Council leader coun Martin Gannon added: “We know that the state of our roads is one of the biggest issues for our residents. That’s why we’re investing in staff and equipment so we can repair more potholes more quickly. Each year we carry out more than 10,000 repairs to our roads and the Pothole Pro, which has been very effective in other areas, will ensure we can do more.
“We know that spending £200k on a new machine is a big investment, but the Pothole Pro will mean repairs can be done four times quicker, at less than half the cost. They’re also a longer-lasting solution so less repairs are needed in the future. So it’s great news for residents and I am proud we’re delivering on the issue that matters to Gateshead people.
“This is a machine that has been tried and tested – and proven to work. It’s a shame that Councillor Beadle appears to be disappointed that we are getting on with delivering on the issues that our residents have told us is a priority for them.”