A COUNCILLOR has spoken of his anger after workers painted double yellow lines through potholes in Ramsbottom.

Contractors working on Friday in Garden Street painted over three potholes with what seems to be an apparent disregard of the danger that they could pose.

The slip-up comes just two days after councillors agreed to work together to better tackle the pothole problem in the borough at a full meeting of Bury Council.

The council have confirmed that the work was carried out by an external contractor, however.

Conservative councillor Ian Bevan, who earlier demanded answers from the Labour-run local authority, Bury Council, said that the potholes should have been filled in before anyone painted over them.

The Ramsbottom councillor said: "I think it is absolutely ridiculous that workmen were unconcerned that they were simply painting double yellow lines over three enormous potholes.

“It makes you angry that money is being wasted like this, particularly when money is tight and the Council have to keep within their budget.

“The Council should have made sure that any potholes were filled before yellow lines were painted.

“In any event, double yellow lines should not have been painted and I am fed up of Bury Council ignoring requests to put down the thinner lavender double lines in Ramsbottom Conservation Area, of which this street is a part."

“They have messed up completely this time.

“What is worse, it comes just a couple of days after Bury Council accepted our Resolution regarding reviewing the highways inspection and repair regime and making it fit for purpose. There is obviously a lot to do!"

Last Wednesday, Bury councillors had voted to tackle the borough’s pothole problem at a full council meeting at Bury Town Hall.

The decision followed last month’s inquest that heard how 83-year-old Roger Hamer, from Ramsbottom, died from his injuries after he fell from his bike in Bury New Road.

Cllr Alan Quinn, Labour cabinet member for environment, said that Bury Council is doing all they can to tackle the pothole problem with a minimal budget.

He said: “We are still waiting for funds promised from the Government to help road repairs after Storm Eva hit in 2015.

“Cuts mean that we simply cannot fill in potholes faster than double yellow lines are put down.

“We borrowed £10 million for investment in roads with £1.5 million of it for repairs but with 660km of roads in Bury it is difficult to keep up.”

He added that the council have been leasing a spray injection machine that can fill a pothole in just four minutes and are now filling them in much faster than last year.

“The machine has proved very useful and the council are going to buy one for £138,000.”

A spokesperson for Bury Council said: “Road markings are carried out by an external contractor and the work should not have been completed.

“The contractor in question will not be paid until the markings are reinstated correctly.

“Furthermore, we will be repairing the potholes in the next few weeks.”