The Vice Chair of Highland Council's Community Services Cllr Richard Greene and Badenoch and Strathspey Ward Member Cllr Jaci Douglas recently viewed a Jetpatcher in operation at Grantown on Spey.
Following trials with neighbouring Local Authorities the Council's Community Services Committee in February this year, approved the purchase of a Jetpatcher with £150,000 from the capital programme. Over a 10-year period the cost of purchase and in-house delivery will provide a saving against the contracted cost of jetpatching.
Cllrs Greene and Douglas were given a demonstration by Jetpatcher operator Shaun Melia of NU-Phalt as he air blasted out a pothole, then lined and sprayed it with emulsion (bitumen) and filled it with 6mm stonechip.
Cllr Greene said: "I was very pleased to see the new Jetpatcher in operation at first hand. It only took five minutes to a repair a four-and-a-half by one-and-a-half foot squared pothole. It was truly impressive and extremely efficient and next to no delay was caused on the road."
Cllr Douglas added: "Three minutes later other small potholes were blasted and repaired in the immediate area. We were both very impressed at how flat the repair was compared with a hot-tar filled hole which tends to set about 1/2inch (1.25cm) proud of the road level. Overall it is a very quick and efficient way of tackling the scourge of potholes on Highland roads."
The lorry and Jetpatcher is driven by Highland Council's driver Bob Armitt from the Grantown Depot.
Wick Councillor and Highland Council budget Leader Bill Fernie said,"Despite money being very scarce we have listened to the public and prioritised spending on roads since the independent councillors took over the administration last year. The main priorities from the public from surveys were Education, Roads and Adult Care. It will take time but we hope to do more in coming months. The Jet Patcher wil be in Caithness for 15 working days between 1st June and 21st June 2016."
