Telford pothole filled in - after seven years

A group of Shropshire residents splashed out on a cake and a card to mark the seventh birthday of one of their most familiar neighbours - a pothole.

But then workmen from Telford & Wrekin Council's "rapid response team" finally turned out to fill in the hole in Wellington - just 2,555 days after it was first reported back in 2003 and within hours of being contacted by the Shropshire Star.

Wellington town councillor Pat McCarthy took up the fight on behalf of residents in Urban Way and bought a cake and a card to mark yesterday's seven-year milestone since the pothole first appeared.

He said it was the "icing on the cake" for members of the College Ward East Residents Association.

"The residents are elated that something has been achieved," he added.

"Overall it has been a bit of a birthday party, something to finally celebrate.

"The fact that they (the council) seem to only take note of the problem on the back of bad publicity when they are responding to residents' needs is not good.

"We should not have to wait until the Shropshire Star gets involved before something is done. Residents here have needs just as much as anyone else."

Councillor McCarthy said residents felt they were treated differently compared to others living in "wealthier" areas.

He said: "The residents have told me they feel the council services wealthier areas before them. This has taken seven years to sort out and three out of the four main roads in the area that are scheduled for works are in prosperous areas."

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, cabinet member for environment with Telford & Wrekin, said it was pure "coincidence" the rapid response team filled the pothole yesterday.

He said an inspector first visited the site on March 8 following complaints from residents but on that occasion "did not deem it required urgent repair".

He added: "Following a site visit in response to a second service request in April, work was programmed in for today and it is pure coincidence that the Shropshire Star were on the scene when this work took place."

By Jason Lavan