Once again, despite multiple requests to fix up roads in Larkholme, we see the splash-and-dash patchwork repair techniques, which only mask the much deeper underlying problems that only resurfacing can fix.

I have had some success in the past in getting Broadway resurfaced, as well as dozens of potholes filled in the area, but we know that roads across Lancashire are grim to drive down.

Inglewood Close in Larkholme is one of the worst cul-de-sacs I have seen, and despite my calls in the part for a full resurfacing the County Council continue continue to say no (despite completing others nearby such as Fern Court and Witton Grove), including just today which you can see in my enquiry and response below. But I will keep pressing them on this.

The degradation of roads and footpaths is not being taken seriously by central government and despite Lancashire County Council being Conservative controlled, I can recognise that they too have been starved of the necessary funding to keep roads in a decent condition.

The situation that we are in is even more frustrating considering that Rishi Sunak cancelled HS2 and pledged that “every single penny” of the funds would be invested in transport projects in the north and midlands, only for the Transport department to then announce £235m on fixing potholes in London using that very same funding – even having the gall to announce it as a “Network North” project!

The County Council certainly need to broaden their standards to undertake repairs, such as halving the 40mm depth rule as Lancashire Labour pledged in their last manifesto and even as Fleetwood Labour Councillor Lorraine Beavers proposed this February at the full council meeting – but sadly the Conservatives on the county council refuse to enact this.