Mercury readers are calling for investment to repair Weston’s ‘horrific’ roads after more than £1million was handed to the local authority.

The Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded North Somerset Council with £1.7million to help improve the district’s highways after more than £400million was set aside in the autumn budget.

Elfan Ap Rees, the council’s executive member for highways, said the roads which will be repaired have not been discussed, but conceded ‘we could do with more’.

He added: “It is not enough to clear the backlog since we left Avon.

“We used to get a small amount of the budget with most going to Bristol and we have been playing catch up ever since.

“Maintaining our roads is of vital importance and we want to improve them.”

Many people took to social media to share their view.

John Cadwallader said: “I don’t understand why we need this fund. Millions of motorists pay billions in taxes. Where’s it all going?”

Mel James wrote: “Surely resurfacing the roads with more than one pothole is a better solution? The road outside the Odeon going from the roundabout is horrific for starters and the roundabout by the hospital has a nasty pothole and the join in the middle is getting worse

“Walliscote and Whitecross are pretty horrific in places too. Let’s hope these all get sorted sooner rather than later.”

Paul Leinichen commented: “It would be a considerable help long-term if it did the job properly when it does it.

So many cheap bodged jobs get done.

“Patches aren’t sealed at the edges so they crumble away again.”

Jonathan Milnes said: “The roads need resurfacing it’s a no brainier.

“You can fill in potholes as much as you like but won’t solve the problem.”

Sue A Phillips Roper wrote: “The roads all over the country are suffering. We’re not the only place with potholes.”

A DfT survey conducted in March suggested North Somerset’s roads are some of the best in the country, with just one per cent of the district’s A-roads in need of repair and four per cent of B and C-roads.

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