Roads and pavements schemes in Newcastle with multiple areas rated as poor and deteriorating - Liberal Democrats would give repairs a much needed boost

Cllr Peter Lovatt (Liberal Democrats) spoke to Newcastle City Council tonight on road and pavements:

"An area which residents raise as concern and I'd like to highlight why we need to invest in this area!
I do note that there are regular surveys conducted at various frequencies determined by critically on roads and pavements. However, I am unable to confirm that the Council are targeting the areas that council tax payers identify as concern?
When researching this subject I reviewed the Councils own Ward road & pavement reports which are available on the Council Website. These reports dated February 2018, identify multiple road and pavement schemes across the whole of the City.
In my own ward of Fawdon & West Gosforth
There were 16 road and pavement schemes identified with multiple areas rated as poor and deteriorating.
Many of these pavements and roads are still poor and deteriorating and 3 years later, I would say, even more would meet the criteria of possible schemes, adding to the backlog of schemes already discussed. I am sure councillors can identify additional schemes in their own wards.
In Red House Farm, along the bus route of Caldwell Road, Acomb Crescent and Belsay Gardens, the road is breaking up and subsiding in numerous areas. There are multiple potholes and damage which have been reported and filled and patched and reported and filled and patched over and over again. Yes when potholes get reported through envirocall, they are mostly repaired within the allocated time period. But are you aware that the continuous temporary repairs cost Council 3-5 times more to repair than planned permanent fixes or patches. Is this efficiency?
Another example I can give is the junction of Rothbury Avenue and Wansbeck Road South. Where in 2019 a resident requiring the use of a walker, fell due to poor road condition, the junction has dropped kerbs at both sides, encouraging pedestrians to cross there. The junction is identified in the ward road & pavement report 2018 as a possible scheme. I asked for the surface to be relayed and was told it did not meet the resurfacing criteria, despite being identified as a possible scheme, a year plus later this junction has deteriorated even further. There will be examples such as this across the whole of the City.
Our amendment will provide a much needed boost to roads and pavements across all wards. I support our amendments.