EIGHT Swansea communities are getting the PATCH treatment over coming weeks as the council road repairs teams get the show on the road for the summer.
Last month the seaside communities of Gower benefited from council pothole-filling teams ahead of the summer beach holiday getaway.
This month and in August it’ll be the turn of places like Penllergaer, Cockett, Mawr, Sketty and Pennard to see the PATCH crews in action.
Cllr Mark Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, said filling in potholes is a never-ending task because of wear and tear on roads by traffic and the natural effects of weather.
He said: “Winter is worst when rain freezes in tiny cracks in roads and pavements and then thaws to break up the surface and create the holes we’ve all witnessed.
“The council knows that if there’s one thing our residents expect of us it’s that we fill in the potholes. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve allocated an extra £1m to the task this year.”
Swansea Council has three road repair teams as well as inspectors whose jobs it is to look after the roads, identify potholes and get them repaired. Emergency road repairs are almost always completed within 24 hours of being reported.
Last year thousands of potholes were repaired in Swansea and so far this year more than 2,500 have already been filled in. All 32 council wards in Swansea get a visit from the PATCH team once a year and communities like Loughor, Gowerton, Penclawdd and Pontarddulais are due to get their visit by October at the latest.
Cllr Thomas said the council wants to encourage residents to report potholes and problem pavements so inspectors can take a look and decide how to prioritise any work which may be necessary.
He said: “Over the last two years the council has committed an extra £2m to dealing with road and pothole repairs. But, even so, the council has to prioritise its time and money so the most important pothole problems are dealt with promptly. But we welcome residents letting us know when they spot one.”
Go online to www.swansea.gov.uk/reportit to report a pothole or have a look at www.swansea.gov.uk/patch to find out when the PATCH project is in a community near you.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
