Conservatives at Essex County Council insist it is good practice to allow potholes to get more than double their present depth before they will be fixed. The Tories rejected a claim by the Liberal Democrat group on the council, that roads are likely to deteriorate under the new strategy. The Lib Dems pushed for a formal meeting to discuss the issue, but the group was eventually voted down by the Conservative members.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats group leader said: “We are disappointed that the Conservatives have decided to go ahead with this new strategy, which we think will lead to a deterioration in road surfaces rather than an improvement. We have particular concerns that this strategy is aimed at motorists and leaves other road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and all pavement users vulnerable to accidents.

“We are convinced that this change of strategy is designed more to see off claims made by people involved in accidents from tripping over potholes, than it is in making people safer. Almost all of us routinely use roads and pavements that are strewn with potholes, splits and other defects and we know that it can be a challenge to get along some stretches of road. With even bigger holes and defects allowed, our local roads are going to become more like assault courses only accessible with 4x4s.”