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Fury in Annan at pothole epidemic

RESIDENTS in Annan have taken to social media this week to share their outrage at the treacherous state of roads in and around the town

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By Zac Hannay
Annan and Eskdale
Fury in Annan at pothole epidemic

They say the recent cold weather and heavy rain before that has sparked a pothole epidemic.

And people have been sharing warnings of new potholes, which have cropped up on roads all over the town, as well as ‘super potholes’ when pre-existing ones have have grown larger and combined with smaller ones to form craters.

Allan Warwick posted a series of pictures on the Annan Open For Business Facebook page and his post attracted over a hundred comments from other fed up road users.

Speaking to the Observer about the strong reaction, Allan said: “I’m not surprised at all, I think everyone is fed up with the potholes in Annan.

“I posted the photos out of frustration. Every year my car is getting damaged by them.

“A workmate who lives in Craignair has told me he won’t drive along it just now as he cracked his windscreen the last time so he goes via Kimmeter Place now.”

However, since he highlighted the issue and after this paper contacted Dumfries and Galloway Council some of the potholes on the High Street appear to have been temporarily filled in.

And a council spokesperson said: “The roads service secured funding at the Communities Committee in December for a resurfacing scheme for this area of the B721.

“Contract documentation is being prepared and works are expected to be completed by the March 31.”

They added: “Roads service continue to monitor and prioritise the repair of defects across Dumfries and Galloway. The service received additional funding in 2021 of £2.4 million over a three year period and a further £960,000 in 2022.

“This funding has seen over 4200 defects repaired and over 6300 tonnes of material being used in the repairs. The project has been so successful in delivering repairs it was agreed the final year’s budget for financial year 23/24 (£800k) would be accelerated forward to maintain the momentum of the project.”

All Roads Defect including potholes can be reported via www.dumgal.gov.uk “Report it”.

Meanwhile, it was revealed last week, following a FOI request by the Scottish Conservatives, that less than half of pothole compensation claims made to Dumfries and Galloway Council actually end up being paid out, although this was the second best payout rate in Scotland’s council areas.