Highway hit squads to combat Sandwell potholes
Specialist squads of workmen have been called in to "blitz" potholes in Sandwell, which have appeared during the freezing conditions.
Four two-man squads will tour the borough to find the damaged roads, and fix them immediately.
There has been a nationwide problem with potholes after the recent snow and ice which crippled the country over the last two weeks.
Sandwell Council deputy leader Councillor Steve Eling said: "Keeping our roads safe and free of potholes is a priority service and that is why we have acted so quickly now that the bad weather has gone.
"These squads will be deployed on the service and will be on the road all day. As they find a pothole they will deal with it.
"There is no logging it and doing the job a week later, this is immediate action."
Councillor Eling said it was not possible to say how much the new service would cost as that could only be assessed at the end of the programme.
But he said whatever the cost, the money would be found to pay for it.
The crews would concentrate on the main routes through Sandwell and he anticipated the whole of the borough could be covered in around eight days.
He added: "The pothole problem is nothing new, it happens every year. But this winter the snow, ice and frost have been extremely severe.
"Keeping our roads safe is our priority and we will not fail in our pledge.
"If necessary, the operation can be repeated as and when it is needed."
In the Wyre Forest district extra road maintenance workers are also being brought in to tackle an increase in potholes.
A total of 18 gangs, seven more than usual, are ready to tour Worcestershire to find and fix any problems on the roads now milder conditions have returned. Officials say that they will be able to tackle as many as 200 potholes each day.
In Staffordshire, council bosses have set aside an extra £500,000 to fix potholes – on top of the £43.5 million spent repairing and improving the county's roads every year.
