Councillors and staff with the new Pothole Pro machine the council has bought

Council invests in new technology to speed up road repairs

The County Council has invested in state-of-the-art technology to help keep the county’s roads running smoothly. 
 
It’s bought a JCB Pothole Pro following a successful trial last year of the rapid road repairer. 
 
The machine, which has numerous tools and attachments to completely repair a pothole or stretch of road surface, was put through its paces by the council last summer and will now help maintain some of the county’s 3,000+ miles of road. 
 
It will focus on the South East of the county, where it’s more effective given the type of road network in the area. 
 
Tests with other local authorities and contractors show the JCB Pothole Pro can increase the rate of repairs dramatically. 
 
Councillor John Riddle, Cabinet Member for Local services, said: “This is a great example of how we are using innovation and the latest technology to improve the services we provide. 
 
"With a huge 3,000 miles of road to look after, anything that can speed up the process of repair and maintenance and save money is a win-win.” 
Although it’s early days, more staff are now being trained on the equipment, and if it proves as successful as planned the authority may purchase a second machine. 
 
Cllr Riddle added: “We know road defects are one of the issues that cause our residents most concern and we’re determined to do everything we can to keep our roads in the best condition possible.” 
 
The development of the JCB Pothole Pro has been personally led by JCB Chairman Lord Bamford. He said: “I’m delighted that Northumberland County Council is joining other authorities across the UK in investing in the JCB Pothole Pro, which is exceeding expectations with its speed and productivity.” 
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