POTHOLES in Ramsbottom are causing deep concern among councillors who are calling for urgent action.

Cllrs Ian Bevan and Rob Hodkinson have called on Bury Council to tackle a number of dangerous potholes in Nuttall Hall Road, the only vehicular route into Nuttall Park.

Cllr Bevan said: “The road has been plagued with deep, dangerous potholes for some time, and as a result of the road not being an adopted highway, the council are not responsible for its upkeep, despite the fact that it is the only route into Nuttall Park and is used by tens of thousands of vehicles each year.

“There has long been a demand by residents for the road to be adopted by the council’s highways department.

“We know that residents and volunteers at Nuttall Park have recently collected more than 1,000 signatures on their petition calling on the council to act.

“In the meantime, we have asked the council’s parks department to undertake urgent repairs.

“Unless something is done soon, there could well be a serious accident or injuries to anyone visiting Nuttall Park.”

Cllr Hodkinson added:“We have requested an urgent high-level meeting with the council to see if the council will finally formally adopt the road so that regular repairs can be undertaken. This situation simply cannot be allowed to continue.”

Cllr Tony Isherwood, cabinet member for environment, said: “The road is unadopted, which means that its maintenance is the responsibility of those who live next to or own land adjacent to the park, not the responsibility of the general taxpayer.

“The council’s policy is that it will only adopt a road once it is brought up to an adoptable standard, which in this case would include building a proper carriageway, footways and street lighting. This would cost a huge sum of money, the majority of which would have to be met by those who front onto the park.

“In the meantime, we have agreed to carry out a programme of pothole repairs on the road in the interests of public amenity.”