ONLY three residential roads per year have been resurfaced in Darwen in the past seven years, one resident has complained.

Darrener Simon Heslington, a regular agitator on the subject of potholes in the town, wrote to Darwen MP Jake Berry complaining about potholes, particularly in Borough Road.

His complaint came on the back of Mr Berry launching his ‘Pothole Patrol’ campaign, calling on residents to report potholes on roads in their area.

His letter was also sent to local councillors, including Sunnyhurst councillor Pete Hollings, who sent Mr Heslington a list of streets resurfaced since 2007.

But Mr Heslington said the letter showed that, apart from main roads and roads close to factories, only 22 had been resurfaced in the seven-year period.

Coun Hollings said: “You mention that only about two streets a year are resurfaced in Darwen.

“I have included a list of streets resurfaced since 2007.

“Unfortunately, it is not quite up to date as we have had Green Street and sections of the A666 resurfaced recently and Union Street in its entirety will be resurfaced very shortly.

“The problems are exacerbated by the funding from central government being reduced year on year.”

Mr Heslington said: “This.....pretty much sums up why the residents of Darwen feel that roads are not being done, or are being done but at a miniscule rate, far lower than should be.

“The first few are due to the regeneration in the centre of Darwen.

“The next two are near large factory complexes.”

Mr Heslington said 59 of the 89 roads listed were main roads.

He added: “Finally, at the bottom, we have 22 residential streets, those streets that serve just houses.

“Simple maths shows that 22 divided by seven is 3.14 streets per year, so I wasn’t far out when I said two per year.”