BASILDON’S roads are in a “horrific” state of disrepair with tarmac “falling apart at the seams”.

Marek Midzio, of Gladwyns, has now launched a campaign to tackle the problem, and has accused County Hall of failing to maintain roads.

The 41-year-old has discovered several routes which he believes “haven’t been touched in years.”

This comes as Essex County Council received 1,173 complaints about potholes last year across the whole county, and paid out £22,742.32 compensation to drivers as a result, an FOI has revealed.

So far this year, the council has received 656 pothole complaints, paying out £2,781.27.

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Mr Midzio said: “Something has to be done. More and more crashes will be happening because of the roads. The roads are just dangerous.”

The previous administration at Basildon Council had vowed to divorce Essex County Council, with roads a key part of the plan.

However the new Tory administration plan to stay put.

Mr Midzio believes Cranes Farm Road, Great Knightleys, Uppermayne, and the Ballards are in the worst condition.

Marek has appealed on social media for fellow residents to report the condition of roads they’re not happy with.

Councillor Craig Rimmer, of the Pitsea south east ward, added: “The roads are awful, but County Hall has been very busy in the pandemic.

“I’ve campaigned for several roads to be fixed up and they have been.”

A spokesman from Essex County Council said: “Crews continue to do everything humanly possible to keep roads in Basildon, just as everywhere else in Essex, safe to use and open to all road users.

“At present national income and public spending is in unprecedented territory as a result of the pandemic and resources determine how much repair and preventive work can be done.

“Despite these constraints, in May, Essex Highways crews fixed 76 road potholes in Basildon.We also completed 100 pavement repairs in Basildon in May, which is more than a quarter of all those completed across the whole of Essex in the same month.”