Pothole repairs '˜not up to standard': Sammy Wilson

The road surface outside Larne MOT centre in its current state. INLT-16-701-con

Locals have voiced frustration at two large potholes on the suface of the privately-owned road, which is the only route by which the public can access the MOT centre.

Each pothole on the unadopted road measures around two and a half feet wide.

Temporary repairs have recently been undertaken, consisting of the holes being filled in with loose gravel and a traffic cone being placed in the middle of the road.

In a letter to Mr Wilson, Environment Minister Mark H Durkhan states that his officials have been in contact with the owner and have arranged a survey of the road.

He says that the temporary repairs “should ensure that vehicles using the private road, whether to use the test centre or other premises, can do so without risk of damage caused by potholes on the road.”

However, Mr Wilson dismissed the repairs as “not up to a satisfactory standard.”

“The loose gravel will be out of those holes in a week with all the traffic there,it’s not a durable repair,” he told the Times.

“Even if the road is privately owned, the MOT centre are responsible for most of the traffic, they expect learner drivers and motorbike drivers to use that road and it’s dangerous.

“People still can’t rest easy that their vehicles won’t be damaged. The public don’t have any alternative but to drive up this road for their MOTs. The DOE need to take some responsibility. This road needs to be properly resurfaced.”

A DOE spokesperson said the department had paid around £300 for the temporary repairs and would cover the cost of the £300 survey.

He continued: “We will continue to monitor the condition of the road, and its likely impact on vehicles, until such time as a permanent solution to the problem is reached. The survey has been completed and the total cost for a permanent solution is estimated at around £28,000. At present, it is not possible to be definitive on when the permanent solution will commence.”

When asked if the department would consider adopting the road, the spokesman said that it is “considering a range of options.”