Lib Dems lodge Freedom of Information request for "truth about pot-holes"

Rochdale Liberal Democrats have submitted a formal Freedom of Information request to find out the truth about road maintenance in the Borough. Council spin doctors recently claimed that £10 million has been spent on roads since 2013. Neil Emmott, the council's Cabinet Member in charge of our roads has further claimed that £1 million has "already" been spent on our roads this year. He said: " Labour has kept last year's election promise and spent an extra £1 million fixing hundreds of potholes."

Lib Dems are now using the Freedom of Information Act and are asking the council to provide them with an up to date list of all pot-holes fixed in this municipal year (2016/17) by electoral ward and the full cost of repairing each pot-hole.

Councillor Andy Kelly, leader of Rochdale Liberal Democrats, said: "My team and I are constantly on our borough's streets speaking to residents. I simply do not believe the council are getting to grips with the pot-hole issues. They claim they are fixing our broken roads and pavements yet we don't see much evidence of this. This Council can spin, we know that. They spend hundreds of thousands on expensive spin doctors but it's crucial that they are even handed and report the facts.

"The Council can't spin Freedom of Information requests: they have to issue the truth about pot-holes. I look forward to them providing evidence to back up their claims. We have also asked the Council to let us know their activity by Council Ward as I am certain that, for example the broken roads in Milnrow and Newhey haven't received their fair share of funding."

Councillor Kelly welcomed the claimed reduction in money paid out in compensation claims. The Council claim that since 2012 they have taken a tough approach. Andy said: "I look forward to the Council providing a list of successfully fought compensation claims to back this up."