Storm over Bolton pothole ‘jibe’

A ROW has broken out between the Federation of Small Businesses and Bolton Council after the SME support organisation branded the town as ‘the pothole capital of Greater Manchester’.

The FSB claimed its research obtained under the Freedom of Information legislation requesting all 10 of local authorities in the conurbation to reveal the number of complaints relating to crumbling highways in 2013/14.

Topping that list, according to the FSB, was Bolton, with 13,915 moans relating to wonky roads in the borough, followed by Trafford with 3,888 complaints and Manchester with 3,524.

However, a Bolton Council spokesperson hit back today saying: “Like other towns and cities across the country, our roads have deteriorated due to a reduction in government grants and consecutive cold winters.

“However, the figure quoted in this release is categorically incorrect and misrepresents Bolton. The number of complaints the council received about potholes in 2013-14 was not 13,195 and it was in fact significantly lower at 2,025.

“The figure of 13,195 actually relates to all types of road defects – not just potholes – and includes things like faded lines on roads, damaged signs and faulty lamps.

“We know that businesses and residents want more investment in the road network and when roads are deteriorating this does undoubtedly have an effect on the number of claims we get.

“We actually spent £6.65m of capital funding in 2013-14 on repairing roads and we are continuing to invest in improving our roads under difficult financial circumstances.”

Regional chairman of the FSB for North Manchester and Cheshire, which covers Bolton, Simon Edmondson, said earlier this week: “People in Bolton clearly aren’t happy with the roads, and with the extraordinary number of complaints the council there has received there can little doubt about it at the town hall either. Trafford, Manchester and Stockport also appear to have issues.”

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