THE poor state of a main road has been slammed by a resident who used to fix roads for a living.

Derek Brown, of Ravenglass Close, spoke out after the Lancashire Telegraph revealed shock figures about the number of potholes being tackled by East Lancashire councils.

New figures showed a ‘pothole epidemic’ was causing misery for motorists after an extra 6,000 potholes were reported to Lancashire County Council.

Mr Brown, who used to fix roads for Darwen Borough Council, said the repairs done to potholes on Whitebirk Road, Blackburn weren’t sufficient.

He said: “Whitebirk Road is an absolute mess, it has been ripped to pieces. I used to be a jack-hammer man for Darwen Council and so I know how to fix a road.

“All the companies employed by the council do is throw some filler into the holes without any adhesive, which doesn’t fix the problem in the long run.

“It is one of only three routes to the motorway and so it’s very important they do a good job and sort it out before it wrecks more people’s cars.”

Mr Brown said: “I have suggested they rip all the road surface up and strip it down to the heavy stuff, which grips better in bad conditions and won’t crack.

“I contacted Kate Hollern and Jack Straw two years ago about the issue and I have just been fobbed off.

“Every time I have contacted the council since they have just told me ‘it is in the next budget’.”

Shadsworth and Whitebirk councillor Ron O’Keeffe said the road should be a priority for the council. He said: “Whitebirk Road is a main artery from the motorway to the hospital.

“There are ambulances travelling up there from Burnley all the time. For that reason I think it should be kept smooth and should be repaired as a priority, more so than some side streets.”

The issue of potholes in Whitebirk Road was raised last March by Coun Jim Shorrock who said he was doing all he could to source funding to have the road fixed.

Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for Regeneration Dave Harling said he was trying to find cash to fix Whitebirk Road. He said: “We are in discussions at the moment about finding funds to fix that road.

“I am conscious it is in a bad state of repair.

“We do always try do fix potholes to a high standard, but it is not always possible due to the road conditions.”