ALWAYS a hot topic and the scourge of drivers and cyclists everywhere, potholes are firmly back on the agenda and one Glasgow man battling to get them fixed.

Jamie Canavan, the founder of the popular Facebook group Potholes In and Around Glasgow, has told the full story behind his incredibly popular project.

“I just want the roads to be safe for road users and pedestrians, people can’t afford the damages either,” said the 29-year-old.

“When I’m driving, I’m constantly left-right-left-right to avoid potholes.”

The group has clearly touched a nerve, racking up nearly 3000 members since launching just a matter of weeks ago.

Jamie, from Shettleston, was inspired to start the group last year when he hit a pothole in Braeburn Road, in Renfrewshire.

He could not claim compensation, he said, because the council had been made aware of the issue.

He said: “They said they had put appropriate measures in place, but they ‘appropriate measures’ were just a wee bit of paint, on a dark road and that was it.

“It wasn’t coned off or anything, it was nothing. I was meant to be able to see that paint in the dark.

“Because of that, I lost out on getting any of the money back that I had to spend. I spent £600 on a new alloy, a new tyre and getting my wheels realigned.”

He describes the situation as being a “Catch-22” because drivers cannot be reimbursed if the council is aware of the problem and has taken appropriate measures.

The lorry driver added: “I don’t think that a wee bit of paint and one cone is enough to warn people. It’s negligence.”

Some of the group’s members have raised concerns that patch-repairs will only serve as a sticking-plaster solution but Jamie argued it was better than them not being potholes being fixed at all.

And the worst pothole he’s seen in the city?

“There was one in Shawlands, that was really bad and that got reported to the council,” said Jamie.

“But it’s everywhere and it’s getting worse and worse. I think Covid has had a big part in it, because of reduced manpower.”

A spokeswoman for Renfrewshire Council said: "We encourage residents to report road faults to us as soon as they notice them.

"When a pothole is reported to us, we send an inspector out to assess it and then arrange for the pothole to be repaired as soon as possible.

"The timescale for the repair depends on the pothole classification – which considers the depth of the pothole and road usage levels. Residents can visit our website - https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/roadorlightfault - to report road faults.”

A Glasgow city council spokesman said: "Any potholes reported to us will be properly assessed by one of our roads inspectors and prioritised appropriately for repair

“Our inspectors also undertake proactive checks of the city’s road network on a routine and on-going basis .

“In the early part of any year it is normal to see an increase in potholes and other faults as the impact of winter weather on the roads surface takes effect.

“Weather conditions in winter this year were particularly harsh with sustained periods of sub-zero temperatures and significant rain fall along with heavy snow at times.

“The covid pandemic has also affected how we can deploy our resources for roads maintenance with earlier lockdowns ceasing work on anything other than the most essential repairs.

“But we do have squads now working both day and night shifts to ensure reports of faults with the road surface are being dealt with as quickly as possible.

“We are also working closely with our contractors to develop a programme of first time permanent repairs that is being implemented across the city.

“As we move through Spring and the planned easing of covid restrictions, we are hopeful that road users will begin to see a significant improvement in road conditions.”