AN ambitious plan to repair up to 60,000 potholes and collapsing road infrastructure across Trafford can’t come a moment too soon for many road users.

However, for one motorist, Ron Williams, 75, of Sale Moor, who is suing the local authority for at least £800 in damages caused to his car, it will offer some relief.

Mr Williams said: “In all my life I have never seen the roads in Trafford in such a dreadful state of disrepair.”

As part of the agreed budget at last week's meeting, Trafford Council announced a highways infrastructure budget of £12.3 million plus £2.1 million for pothole repairs.

The authority has estimated that the budget equates to more than 20,000 pothole repairs plus 14 miles of road surface repairs annually during the three-year programme of works.

Mr Williams wrote to Trafford Council shortly before Christmas to complain that he had a bill from his garage to replace damaged shock absorbers after hitting a series of potholes along a stretch of Marsland Road, close to Brooklands Bridge.

He said: "After running over these potholes, I took my car to the garage and they said my shock absorbers for my VW Scirocco were completely shot.

“I pay my road tax to have these things done, but every time I am driving along Marsland Road, I am forced to swerve around these potholes. As a result, I am putting not just myself, but other road users at risk.

“I have lodged a claim for the repair against Trafford Council, but it is refusing to even acknowledge the potholes in Marsland Road are a problem.

“I am determined to pursue this claim as a matter of principle and on behalf of other road users who have been similarly affected.”

A spokesman for One Trafford Partnership said: “We are unable to comment on the individual nature of claims made against the council until all investigations are completed.

"We can confirm that the stretch of road identified in the complainant’s photograph has been inspected and does not meet the criteria for intervention.

"We are committed to ensuring our highways are in the best condition for the benefit of everyone and are proud to currently sit in the top 15 per cent for road condition within the UK.

"Information on the current Highways Investment Programme is available online, and includes 'when' and 'where' improvements are taking place across the borough as part of our  'keeping you moving' campaign. Details can be found at www.trafford.gov.uk/traffordroads."

Stretford Councillor Steve Adshead, who is Labour’s shadow spokesman for highways, said: “The situation with potholes has been getting worse over the past few years, but a lack of investment and repair has led to many of them becoming downright dangerous.

“Once the budget is fully approved, we will know which potholes will be filled in over the next year, but Labour intends to push Trafford Council to spend more of the additional funding on the one’s which are considered by us to need to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”

The programme of works will be overseen by the One Trafford Partnership which will work with Cheshire-based Thermal Road Repairs (TRR) and Amey.

TRR has developed cutting-edge technology that allows for the controlled heating of asphalt.

The cost effective, environmentally friendly process has two applications. Firstly, the ability to seamlessly lay new asphalt pavements; a process that has been used on eight major European airport runway contracts in the 12 months.

Secondly, it has the ability to deliver fast, efficient, quality asphalt repairs.

Cllr Brian Shaw, executive member for highways, parks and environmental services, said: “We are pleased to be working with TRR to provide some of the best treatments available in the industry to the roads here in Trafford.

"In Trafford, there are 834 kilometres (518 miles of road), and 1,196 kilometres (743 miles) of footpaths and cycleways, so it is highly important that we ensure the best techniques are being used to protect the borough’s most valuable asset.

"The network is vital to our residents, businesses and economic wellbeing, therefore we are committed to keeping you moving through Trafford.”

The following locations are to be treated with the TRR method by end of March, subject to weather conditions:

Altrincham – Arcon Place/Stokoe Avenue and Oldfield Avenue; Broadheath – Woodhouse Lane; Davyhulme – Davyhulme Road; Flixton – Norfolk Gardens; Hale – Clarke Crescent and South Down Road; Sale – Glebelands Road and Sandwell junction and Norris Road; Timperley – Grove Lane, Park Road and Riddings Road junction and Woodlands Parkway; Timperley Village – Stockport Road.