RESIDENTS around Basingstoke and Deane are being encouraged to report details of any potholes they spot using a new app.

The app has been set up by the Basingstoke Liberal Democrat group in a bid to highlight the borough’s ongoing battle with potholes.

Unveiled by Lib Dem candidate for Brighton Hill North in the upcoming borough election on May 3 Andy Konieczko and leader of the Basingstoke Liberal Democrats Councillor Gavin James, the app aims to form a database of untended potholes.

It is hoped that by reporting various road blemishes via the web app the figures will be compiled into a report which will be presented to Hampshire County Council which carries out road maintenance in the borough.

Cllr James said: “Hampshire County Council asked the government for more money so that it can address our area’s pothole problem.

“It has now been given £3 million extra for exactly this purpose, so there’s no longer any excuse for leaving our roads in such a terrible state. It’s time to fix Basingstoke’s pothole plague.”

Residents are encouraged to report details of any potholes that they spot using the app, which can be found on potholes.basingstokelibdems.org.uk, or via the Basingstoke Liberal Democrat website at basingstokelibdems.org.uk.

Mr Konieczko added: “Residents keep telling us that they’re fed up with the appalling condition of Basingstoke’s roads. If you drive or cycle along any stretch of road in Brighton Hill, you’ll see why: our roads are falling apart.

“The problem is made worse by the fact that the Hampshire County Council is unwilling to do anything about our pothole plague. Residents keep reporting the potholes to the council but then nothing happens - they feel that their complaints are being ignored by the Conservative-led administration. We’ve launched this app to help put that right.”

“At the moment, people are reporting potholes to Hampshire County Council but then nothing happens - they feel that their complaints are being ignored. We’ve launched this app to help put that right. The submissions made within the app will be compiled into a ‘pothole census’ that we’ll then present to Hampshire County Council and lobby for action to be taken.”

All three Liberal Democrats pictured are nominated for the Basingstoke and Deane borough elections on May 3.

The candidates for each ward the three are standing in are as follows (in order of how they appear on the Statement of Persons Nominated):

Eastop: Gavin James (Liberal Democrat), Rebecca Sanders (Conservative), Duncan Stone (Independent) and Sajish Tom (Labour).

Brighton Hill South: James Belchamber (Liberal Democrat), Richard Court (Conservative), Scott Neville (Libertarian Party), Kim Taylor (Labour) and Michael Thompson (UKIP).

Brighton Hill North: Mick Butler (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition), Shane Grimes (Conservative), Andy Konieczko (Liberal Democrat) and Mark Taylor (Labour).