Local MP Maria Miller watched one of Hampshire County Council’s two dragon patcher machines at work last week, repairing the road surface at Wykeham Drive in Basingstoke. Maria joined Cllr Rob Humby, HCC Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport to see the machine in action.
The County Council has secured the two dragon patcher machines exclusively for use on Hampshire roads by adding local funding to the extra money received from the Government’s Pothole Fund. The innovative new machines are quick and efficient, repairing a defect five times faster than traditional methods, meaning that many more repairs can be made, and the roads are open for traffic sooner.
Maria said: “ Having roads free from potholes and other defects is really important for people going about their daily business, and I was really interested to see this new technology which is helping to improve the road surfaces for Basingstoke residents.”
“It’s great that we have had more than £50 million invested in road improvements in Basingstoke, to make sure that the roads infrastructure keeps up with the housing development. But ensuring that the road surfaces are kept in good condition is just as important, and it is really good to see the County Council’s commitment to this.”
Councillor Humby said: “Making sure Hampshire’s extensive road network is well maintained is one of our top priorities. By investing in new technologies and exploring the use of innovations such as these two dragon patchers, we are finding more cost effective and efficient ways to deliver the best possible services we can to Hampshire residents while balancing our budget.”