A POLICY of mending potholes on a individual basis at the Deer Park estate has been strongly criticised by a town councillor.

The cash-strapped Herefordshire Council says it is aware of the problems and the local concerns over the state of the roads in streets including Biddulph Way and Martins Way.

But there is no broad policy of tackling the problems in one go, and Cllr Tony Bradford, who lives on the estate, said the condition of the roads was "appalling".

And he said the repairs that have been done have not been done "properly" and will not last.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: "The roads in Biddulph Way have had the potholes individually repaired according to the specification required.

"The Locality Steward in this area is aware of the concerns raised by residents and is actively monitoring the repairs on a regular basis."

Cllr Bradford, in response said: "Is he standing there and looking at them? Is he doing checks on a daily or a weekly basis, or any other day?

"Buses are going down that road (Biddulph Way). It is appalling."

Cllr Bradford added: "I understand that Herefordshire Council is in dire straights with finances, but if you are going to repair potholes, do it properly. It is not even 'make-up', the work they have done.

"None of us are blind round here."

It is not the first time in recent months that Herefordshire Council has be under fire for its pot-hole mending policies in Ledbury.

In the autumn, Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Annette Crowe, described the Homend as being "no better than a farm track".

But Herefordshire Council has stated that no road repairs will be carried out in the Homend this winter.

Local residents have also raised concerns over the state of potholes on other residential roads, such as Church Road, near St Michael and All Angels Church.

In November, Cllr Martin Eager said that Herefordshire Council's contractor, Balfour Beatty, should have completed the entire county-wide road repair package "before they start patting themselves on the back".

His comments came following a national survey which revealed that Herefordshire roads were "the most improved in the country".