BUSINESSES on King Street have criticised Cheshire East Council for ‘wasting’ taxpayers’ money on temporary solutions to the pothole problem, leaving the road unsafe for shoppers.

Traders in the town are becomingly increasingly concerned about the state of the roads, saying that the council is spending money on ‘quick fixes’ for holes outside their businesses.

The council recently announced that it will receive more than half a million pounds to fix more than 10,000 potholes across the borough in the next five years, which has sparked questions about why the holes on King Street have had to be repaired on ‘multiple occasions’.

Matthew Mooney, proprietor of wedding venue the Belle Époque, told the Guardian that he has attempted to contact Cheshire East to discuss a solution but he is being ignored.

“It just seems like poor workmanship that isn’t lasting,” he said. “Now they are saying there is more money for potholes. They are just generating work for themselves each time.

“It’s very frustrating seeing bad workmanship being rewarded. If someone was doing work in your house, you wouldn’t pay them twice.

“I feel like residents are being short-changed and the council hasn’t had the courtesy to reply.”

After years of controversy surrounding the condition of the road, the council scrapped its King Street Enhancement scheme in 2015 following a consultation period with residents, businesses and visitors to the town.

Mark Boa, owner of Boa Hairdressing on King Street, told the Guardian that he remains concerned for the safety of elderly people and those with prams due to the state of the road.

“We have got massive potholes outside the door,” he said. “Knutsford is full of elderly people and people with prams. Bits of kerb are being filled with something and it’s disappearing a week later making the road unsafe.

“I feel like the council could be forgetting about Knutsford because we are so far away. They have remarked the roads and are sending traffic wardens out at 7pm, if they can spend the resources on that then why can’t they spend money getting the roads sorted out.”

This is not the first time that people have complained about the condition of the roads, with residents taking to Twitter to post photographs of potholes across the town.

Concerns have also been raised by the owner of cycling shop, Bikes ‘n’ Gear, for the safety of cyclists using the arterial route through the town.

Paul Bonner added: “It is extremely hazardous cycling on the roads. You have to take serious avoiding action sometimes swerving into the road.

“You’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, it’s either go in a pothole or into a car, or a wagon that’s coming from behind.

“Some attention is certainly required not just on King Street but all of the east Cheshire roads.”

Cheshire East Council has commented on the state of the road, saying: "

A spokesman for Cheshire East Highways said: “Cheshire East Highways has an excellent record in dealing with highways issues and we have a programme for repairing our roads as quickly as possible according to the severity of the damage and any road safety concerns.

“We have inspected the condition of King Street, Knutsford and there is no plan in the short term to carry out a scheme on this section of road.

“However, the situation will continue to be reviewed at monthly intervals.”