A MOTORIST has questioned why a section of the A595 was resurfaced 'unnecessarily' after potholes emerged less than six months later.

A regular user of the key route between south and west Cumbria said he is puzzled as to why highways bosses decided to resurface the road through Askam and Ireleth.

The A595 is a well-used road providing a link between Furness and Copeland.

The road-user said: "Less than six months ago the A595 through Askam and Ireleth was resurfaced.

"Much of it, especially the part leading out of Askam towards Dalton, was already in a very good condition.

"So I really don't why they resurfaced that part - by laying a terrible rough and gritty surface over a high quality one, which had only been laid a year or two before, including new cats' eyes.

"The new surface, laid only a few months ago, especially on the hill through Ireleth, now has large patches where it's clearly disintegrating.

"There hasn't been any cold weather and the new surface was laid only a short time ago."

The motorist was critical that public money was being used unnecessarily.

He also complained about the 'poor quality' pothole repairs carried out by highways bosses.

"I find it appalling that public money was spent on clearly poor quality materials and techniques, resulting in a surface which will have to be patched up again and again," he said.

"It's a waste of money. They could have laid a decent surface in the first place, which would last many years.

"Is anyone holding highways to account, any manager, any councillor?

"It doesn't seem so, especially when you look at the ridiculous pothole repairs in the region which, when they're done - which is rarely - are so bad that new holes appear again in the same place in a few months.

"This is their job."

The Mail has asked Cumbria County Council, which is responsible for maintaining roads in the county apart from trunk roads - which are the responsibility of Highways England, for a response.