Residents on Aberdeen Avenue in Cambridge have counted 51 individual pothole repairs on their road, leading to calls for a more permanent solution instead of repeated patching. The stretch near the junction with Brooklands Avenue has become a patchwork of tarmac repairs, with locals questioning why the council has not opted for a full resurfacing.
Patchwork repairs spark frustration
The road surface has been repaired piecemeal as potholes appeared, a method one former councillor described as a 'money-grubbing practice'. Dr Jocelynne Scutt, a former councillor, said: 'Clearly, all could have been done as one major patch. Dedicated Highways workers now will stand aghast at this sort of money-grubbing practice that ought-to-be-stopped.'
Some residents have raised concerns that repairing potholes individually might be more profitable for contractors, although there is no evidence to support this claim. The patchwork of repairs has made cycling along the road bumpy, especially for those without suspension.
Council defends its approach
Cambridgeshire County Council maintains that repairs are carried out as and when needed, following safety inspections or reports from road users. A spokesperson said: 'While resurfacing the entire area may be desirable, it can be more expensive and, with limited funding available, resurfacing schemes must be prioritised across the county based on need.'
The council recently approved £5 million for road repairs ahead of winter, but acknowledged that this is not enough to cover all needs. Earlier this year, the government introduced tougher rules requiring councils to prove they are fixing potholes, or risk losing up to a third of their funding for the next year.
Cost of pothole damage to drivers
Damage to vehicles from potholes costs the average driver around £500 in repairs, according to industry figures. With limited budgets, councils across the country face difficult choices between patching and full resurfacing.
For now, Aberdeen Avenue remains a patchwork of repairs, and residents continue to call for a longer-lasting solution. The council says it must prioritise resurfacing schemes across the county based on need, leaving the road's future uncertain.
