A STRETCH of road has deteriorated to the point it has become “like an assault course”and is in urgent need of repair a ward councillor has claimed.

Cllr Sean Hornby, who represents Little Lever and Darcy Lever, says a small section of Stopes Road on the Bury side of the border is in such poor state of repair it has become dangerous.

The UKIP group leader has now written to Bury Council about his concerns over the condition of the Radcliffe stretch of Stopes Road.

Cllr Hornby said: “We are getting a lot of complaints saying ‘get this road sorted out’ but it’s not our patch of road. It’s a mess, it’s like having to go into an assault course.

“It’s just on the boundary between Bolton Road, where the mini-roundabout is, it’s 50 yards, that is all but it’s in little spots here, there and everywhere, you are swerving and dodging past it.”

And in his mail to Bury Council highways bosses he urges them to bring the stretch of road as soon as possible.

He said: “I am very proud to be able to say that from the Bolton and Bury boundary through Little Lever our stretch of the Stopes Road through to Market Street, Church Street, Hall Lane, Loxham Street up to the A666 leading to the motorway network is hazard free and in very good repair.

“To drive at present along the very short stretch of Stopes Road in the ownership of Bury Council is not just a challenge I believe it is dangerous.

“Less than two years ago Bury Council did a patch up near to the junction of Bolton Road on Stopes Road but did not address the issue of the road which was wearing out towards the Bolton and Bury boundary.

“I would be grateful if some urgent action could be taken in order that this very short stretch of roadway could be brought up to the same standard as the rest of the main road network which stretches from the M60 junction 20 to the A666 at Moses Gate.”

Cllr Hornby has also asked Bury chiefs to explore the possibility of obtaining compensation from the Highways Agency, on the grounds the diversion “contributed significantly” to its current condition.

But Bury Council leader Rishi Shori says that £2m of the authority’s £10m pot hole fund has already been earmarked for Radcliffe, and chiefs are already well on top of the situation.

He said: “As an immediate step we are going to have potholes in that stretch filled, but in a broader, more strategic context we had already announced resurfacing up to Stokes Road roundabout, but are now going to extend that up to the Bolton boundary.

“We last had the area inspected on April 20 we are fully aware of the issue.”