MORE than 200 fed up residents have signed a petition calling for urgent action to fix the state of the roads across one part of Colchester.

The petition, set up by Essex County Council member Dave Harris, calls for the roads across Shrub End to be "properly repaired and resurfaced" rather than undergo hastily completed patch jobs.

Mr Harris (Lab, Maypole) collected more than 200 signatures within the space of a few days from residents in Shrub End.

He said: "The petition calls for the 1950s old concrete roads in Colchester shrub end to be properly repaired and resurfaced.

"The concrete roads were covered by 25mm to 50mm of tarmac many years ago, which has not worked.

"It would be OK if patch repairs were done timely and effectively, but due to Essex County Council's policy on estate roads - not doing anything until the 75mm deep threshold is reached - our roads in Shrub End and indeed Monkwick are left.

"This petition is a sign residents are fed up with the situation and needs a step change and some investment in our ageing and decaying roads in local estates

"I am even offering for portfolio holder for road repairs to meet me on site."

Mr Harris presented the petition at the first full council meeting of the new municipal year on Tuesday.

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A spokesman for Essex County Council said the deepest of the roads defects in Shrub End were set for repair.

He added: "Some slightly deeper potholes on Eldred Avenue and similar roads nearby have been logged for repair.

“However, much of the unsightly issues on the road, including some of those Cllr Harris is indicating, can be seen to be where the relatively thin overlay of black asphalt covers the original lighter-coloured concrete road.

"These defects are then thin and unsightly, but not in most cases a significant hazard.”

The new cabinet of Essex County Council has been confirmed this week.