CALLS have been made for a new strategy to deal with Gloucestershire’s potholes after complaints that the current system is inefficient and wasteful.

Road users have criticised the policy employed by Gloucestershire County Council of only fixing potholes that are 40mm deep or more - leaving adjacent potholes until they become bigger.

While this prioritise policy focuses on the most potentially dangerous potholes first, and mitigates insurance claims against GCC from motorists whose cars have been damaged by poor roads, it means highways' crews often return to the same stretch of road several times.

Retired farmer John Forster, 74, who lives in Adey’s Lane in Wotton-under-Edge, said a lot of people were seeing their cars damaged.

"Who thought of this brilliant scheme of only dealing with 40mm holes? Are those people here to serve the public or just to cover the council’s back?" he said.

"The contractors have said to me they don't like doing it like this because it is not doing it properly. It is downright inefficient."

Another disgruntled motorist is retired carpenter Alan Miles, 68, who has lived in Woodfield Road in Cam for 44 years.

"It was dug up two or so years ago and looks like it is falling apart again already. Is there anyway of checking the roads when they are re-laid? Where's the quality control?" he said.

"It’s a waste of time and money if it is not being done properly. Unless the quality is there it's a waste."

Newly-appointed cabinet member for highways and flood Cllr Vernon Smith said they followed central government guidelines to deal with the most dangerous potholes within 24 hours and those considered a smaller safety risk within 28 days.

"Extra gangs have been brought in to tackle these safety defects as they remain the priority," he said.

"There is no question of doing sub-standard work to save money or time. The materials and methods used have to be of industry standards and we always ensure the best possible job is carried out."

The civil engineer said GCC are looking to double the £10,000 given to councillors to deal with roads in their area as part of the Highways Local programme, using the 'fix first visit' strategy.

The 'fix first visit' strategy uses highways crews to deal with an area of road, rather than individual problems, and the Conservative member said last year's pilot scheme reduced the £91million estimated road repair bill to £86million.

"I want to see more resurfacing, surface dressing and patching. I want to see tarmac on the roads," he said.

"We have developed this scheme through our Highways Local project and many opted to pay for pothole repairs using the fix first visit approach. It is a far more flexible approach."

The contract to maintain Gloucestershire's roads is currently being tendered, with the new contractor starting in April 2014.