East Riding Council's pothole warning signs

More than 300 potholes on a 400-yard stretch of road had been ignored for weeks.

But within hours of the Mail highlighting the shocking state of Priory Road, council warning signs had been placed by the roadside.

Stating what has long been obvious to motorists using the busy commuter route between Hull and Cottingham, one sign read "Temporary Road Surface".

The other simply stated: "Ramp".

A few hours later, yellow paint markings around some of the worst potholes had also appeared, suggesting the impending arrival of council repair team.

Driving instructor Andrew Allison, who is also spokesman for the Hull and East Riding Taxpayers' Alliance, was less than impressed by the belated actions of East Riding Council.

He said: "Priory Road is without doubt the worst road in the region. It has been literally crumbling away every day for months.

"'Because of the health and safely world we live in, councils are forced to put up signs like this to avoid litigation, even though it's stating the obvious.

"My question is why the council haven't acted sooner to at least make Priory Road safe? Silly signs like these wouldn't be needed then."

Mr Allison said the issue also raised wider questions about transport funding.

He said: "Motorists pay very high taxes for the privilege of using the roads and the least they expect is for them to be safe to drive on.

"Priory Road can no longer be described as safe."

Other drivers who regularly use the road agreed that another temporary fix was not the answer.

Marketing manager Rachael Austin, who lives in Cottingham, said: "Priory Road has been a massive problem for years and holes are only filled in now and again.

"After the floods in 2007 when the road was knee high in water, the pot holes were horrendous. Again, they were filled in but not properly."

The original construction method issued in building Priory Road as well as ground conditions in the area were highlighted by Mr Ian Wright, of Hornsea.

He said: "This road, along with Endike Lane and Inglemire Lane, were constructed in the 1930s in long concrete slabs about twelve nches thick laid on the gravelly-clay water-bearing ground surrounding the south of Cottingham.

"The joints between each slab was filled with pitch and re-filled over the years as each slab moved independently in all directions.

"The effect was most noticeable on bicycles but also affected all metal-wheeled and later tyred vehicles. The remedy then was asphalt patching in larger and larger areas and now naturally eroding

"The only real answer, since vehicles are becoming heavier, is very expensive sequential re-building of these roads with properly drained foundations.

"Water is very near the surface and may well also be a problem."

An East Riding Council spokesman said repairs would be carried out once weather conditions improved.

However, with temperatures expected to fall over the weekend and snow being forecast, it's unlikely that driving between Hull and Cottingham will get any easier until next week at the earliest.