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Flintshire County Council invests in innovative pothole solution
Published: 28/10/2024
In light of significant budget reductions and ongoing financial pressures, Flintshire County Council has taken decisive action to ensure road maintenance efficiency and longevity is protected with the acquisition of the JCB Pot-Hole Pro - a revolutionary machine designed to reduce costs and tackle the persistent challenge of potholes.
This move is part of the Council's broader strategy to navigate budget cuts by investing wisely in technology that saves time, money and improves services over the medium to long term.
The introduction of the JCB Pot-Hole Pro has been a key component of Flintshire County Council's 'invest to save' philosophy, which prioritises long-term savings and efficiency gains over short-term, reactive measures. In effect, making every pound go further. The machine not only reduces the risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) for operatives, but also delivers a more permanent repair than traditional manual techniques.
Councillor Glyn Banks, Cabinet member for Streetscene and Transportation, said: “Investments like this are essential to modernising services and ensuring that we can continue to maintain and improve our infrastructure in the most cost-effective way possible, despite the challenges presented by budget cuts.
“We believe that through careful planning and investment in innovation, we can achieve a more sustainable and efficient future for Flintshire.”
Carolyn Thomas, Member of the Senedd for North Wales, added: “It is great to see Flintshire County Council utilising innovative solutions such as Pothole Pro to maintain highways across the county.
“Local authorities like Flintshire have a wealth of knowledge and expertise on highway matters, built up over many years, which is why I am so keen to see Welsh Government highway funding further devolved to local authorities. This would give councils like Flintshire more control over how they spend the money they’re given, providing them with greater opportunities to use their knowledge and expertise to ensure residents get the best value for money, as well as the best solutions to maintaining highways.
“The First Minister has made fixing roads a priority and I have been working with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales on ways of ensuring there is funding available within the transport budget."
The machine's advanced capabilities will lead to more durable road repairs, reducing the frequency of potholes and extending the lifespan of the county's roads. This not only translates to smoother and safer travel for residents but also results in significant cost savings by minimising the need for ongoing repairs, which can be both disruptive and expensive.
Residents may have already seen the new machine out and about this summer. The Pot-Hole Pro has been improving roads up and down Flintshire since April, including the A451 at Rhosesmor, Star Crossing at Cilcain, Tesco roundabouts in Mold, sections of the A548 and Brynford St in Holywell, and more recently Caerwys hill.