Drivers in Basildon who take a hammering from the district's potholed roads could soon be on smoother ground.
Essex County Council is taking back responsibility for repairing highways, fuelling hopes that better roads are on the way.
In the past, Basildon Council has acted as an agent for the county council, repairing as many roads as it can within the county council budget. Basildon is one of only two districts to have this arrangement and Essex has decided to take everything back in-house.
Ben Fuente of the Basildon Hackney Carriage Association said: "It can only get better. The roads in Basildon are really bad, so any improvement would be greatly appreciated. Roads in Basildon are worse than anywhere else.
"We spend a lot of time phoning the council saying where the holes are, not that anything gets done."
However, Basildon Council expects little change. Council leader Malcolm Buckley explained: "At the moment Basildon Council can only do what the county council allows us to do.
"At present if a road needs a repair people will blame Basildon Council. This way if people are not happy with road maintenance it is abundantly clear it is Essex County Council."
Published Friday July 30, 2004
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