by Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

The bill for fixing Kent's potholed streets is expected to cost some £6.5million.

Kent County Council has been carrying out an intensive "find and fix" programme to repair roads damaged by the prolonged winter spell.

Now it has pledged to spend another £1.5m fixing potholes to ensure the condition of most of the county's roads are brought up to scratch.

It has already spent £3.4m but KCC has estimated the overall costs of its programme will come in at £6.5m. That includes extra government grants worth £2.4m.

Under its initiative, the council has appointed a number of specialist tarmac contractors to repair every fault they encounter on minor and rural roads that make up the bulk of Kent's 5,000-mile network.

Kent Highway Services' own crews are fixing potholes on the county's main network of A and B routes.

Over the first six months of the year, the council fixed 100,000 potholes, double the total number repaired in the first half of last year.

Cllr Nick Chard (Con) KCC cabinet member for highways said: "We estimate it will take until early autumn to repair the entire minor road network, so we are asking residents to bear with us. We are dedicated to getting round all our roads and some cases it will be later, rather than sooner, so please be patient."