AT least 60 potholes are blighting the streets of Billericay – and residents have had enough of the "dangerous" craters.
The total came to light this week when the Gazette went on a crater safari in the town centre and on its surrounding streets with former town councillor Terence Gandy.
Armed with a metre rule, Mr Gandy, of Norsey View Drive, totted up the potholes and measured the depths of the biggest ones we could find.
There were no fewer than five craters in Tylers Avenue, while at the junction of Orchard Avenue and Stock Road there was an 80cm gaping fissure in the road.
Perry Street was even worse, with ten potholes and near Mayflower School there were three in Stock Road.
There are 12 in Western Road and Frithwood Lane is also bad, with six potholes, one of which is a metre in length with a depth of 15cm.
Lynda Pattle, 65, lives nearby in First Avenue and has become increasingly frustrated
She said: "I complained last year about the Thrift Wood Lane potholes. They're so dangerous you can't swerve around them but some people may be inclined to."
Mr Gandy said: "At the moment when people complain to Basildon Council they are told to contact Essex County Council but the borough council should take proactive action and send out the people who deal with these complaints.
"They should drive around the town – much like I have – and keep up to date with the situation.
"They shouldn't have to wait for residents to complain."
He explained that children are encouraged to walk to Buttsbury Junior School and that they are endangered by the state of the pavements on Norsey View Drive.
"It was so hazardous it compromised their safety and of course it's dangerous to drivers too.
"If left they will only get worse – the council needs to take action now before the winter."
A Basildon Borough Council spokesman said: "Potholes are the responsibility of Essex County Council.
"In terms of tours, again, that would be Essex County Council who would do that, not us.
"It would not be appropriate for the council to organise tours, but we can lobby the county council on particular areas of concern, but that would normally be done through ward councillors."
An Essex County Council spokesman said: "The council recently updated its highways maintenance policy to provide a more consistent approach to road repairs across the county, and ensure that priority is given to roads which carry the highest traffic volumes.
"Repairs will be prioritised on County Routes, in order to allow the council to focus maintenance activity on the busiest roads.
"Those inspected and not identified as requiring an immediate repair will be considered as part of the county council's planned maintenance programme.
"The county council has an inspection programme for all roads – Priority 1 roads are inspected monthly, Priority 2 roads every three months, and Local Roads annually. However, to ensure we are able to identify potholes and defects for repair as quickly as possible, we ask residents to report them to us as soon as they see them."
