LAST month I attended a highways meeting which had been called for due to the lack of maintenance of roads in the Forest of Dean.

The county council banged on about lack of funds to repair or maintain our roads but did assure us that there would be an improvement over the coming months and agreed that roads do deteriorate over the winter months.

We were told that when a white circle is painted around an offending pot hole, it will be repaired within 28 days.

Similarly, if a white cross is painted on the road, the defect is deemed urgent and will be repaired the next working day.

I reported a sunken and loose drain cover outside my house in Coleford some weeks ago which, after having to re-report as the inspector couldn’t find a problem, has now had a white cross painted on it for almost two weeks

Despite several e-mails to Amey Contracting and also one to head of highways, Mr Watkins – who hasn’t even had the decency to reply.

The defective road remains unrepaired.

Should anyone suffer vehicle damage caused by defective roads, particularly if they are known about and have been painted pending repair, I would urge people to contact the council.

– Cllr Martin Hill (UKIP), Forest of Dean District Council, Coleford East.