ALTON is at the head to the queue in the county road repair stakes with contractors working flat out to fill in pot holes which are seeking to undermine the town's road network.
While acknowledging local concern about the state of the roads, Mr Barron explained that road maintenance in Hampshire was covered by two budgets. The permanent maintenance budget covered major structural work and could not be used for pot hole work. But, said Mr Barron, "over the years Alton has had its fair share of this budget."
The repair of potholes comes out of the temporary maintenance budget, with work assessed on a points system. During the last financial year, however, more than £0.5m of this budget had been swallowed up by emergency work in flooded areas, with little left for pothole work. "It is not a bottomless pot," said Mr Barron.
However, the start of the new financial year had released more funding and two gangs were now working in the Alton area to undertake necessary repairs.
Work had already started on Butts Road and Anstey Road and according to the county council "orders have already been submitted" for work to Whitedown Lane, between The Butts and Basingstoke Road, the A339 between The Butts and Medstead Road C26 Medstead Road through Beech, the B3349 Basingstoke Road, Lenten Street, High Street, Wilsom Road, Ashdell Road, Lower Turk Street and Chawton Park Road.
In addition to these, the county council has confirmed that "orders are about to go in" for work to the following roads: London Road (Holybourne), Anstey Lane, Plovers Way, Geales Crescent, Old Odiham Road, Paper Mill Lane, Market Street and Windmill Lane.
r Mr Barron confirmed that those cast iron bollards in Alton Town Centre which have been damaged are to be replaced but that an investigation is under way to try and find a more durable alternative for future use.