A NATIONAL cycling charity has praised Tower Hamlets council’s new approach to dealing with potholes while saying that only 45% of reported road hazards are repaired.

CTC, the national cycling organisation, is working with the council to encourage local volunteers to mark the location of potholes and other road hazards on the Fill That Hole website.

The council is then able to repair the problem spots, which can be dangerous to cyclists and motorists and which can worsen in cold weather.

Despite the working link between the two bodies, on the charity’s league table ranking local authorities success in dealing with the hazards, Tower Hamlets has a fixed rate of only 45%.

Of 217 hazards marked by members of public on the website since 2007, which can also include sunken manhole covers and cracks in the road, only 85 have been reported as fixed by the council or the public.

It currently leaves the council trailing other London local authorities including Kensington and Chelsea which has a 88% fixed rate and neighbouring Newham (85% fixed rate).

It ranks 40th out of 212 local authorities in the UK.

CTC policy co-ordinator Mr Peck said: “The statistics will depend on how good the council is in letting us know that the holes have been fixed.

“We know that you have to work with councils because they’re not always aware of where potholes are and Tower Hamlets have adopted a pioneering approach.

“This is a much more organised attempt to encourage members of the public to report the hazards and inspect their streets.”

He also said he expected reported cases to go up in the coming months as a result of poor weather – pot holes are caused when water freezes on road surfaces and then expands during a freeze-thaw cycle.

The website also allows users to post photos of troublesome potholes.

Images of a deep pothole on the approach to a roundabout in Prestons Road in Isle of Dogs and uneven road surfacing in Fairfield Road, Bow were both reported in December to warn other cyclists.

Official figures from the council on the number of potholes and other hazards in the borough were unavailable.

If you know of danger spots on the borough’s roads, let the East London Advertiser know by emailing ela.editorial@archant.co.uk.

For further information, visit fillthathole.org.uk.