Quicker and more thorough repair of potholes is needed to save money and keep roads safe, people have said.

Last week, it was announced that Liberal Democrat councillors have challenged Essex County Council – the authority responsible for road maintenance – to review its pothole policy.

Cracked and broken roads should be repaired quicker, said councillor David Kendall, and a restriction on repairing holes less than 5cm deep should be lifted.

The review, which could get the go-ahead on October 13, has been welcomed by some in Epping Forest.

Matt Neville, of Conybury Close in Waltham Abbey, said he has been ‘pestering the council for a year’ over unresolved pothole issues.

He twisted his ankle in a pothole outside his home in September last year, despite notifying the council multiple times after it appeared in May.

Welcoming the review, he said shallower holes need to be fixed.

He said: “It definitely sounds like a good thing.

“Less than 5cm is still deep enough to twist your ankle.

“It does not take much for someone to hurt themselves, especially when you are old.

“It is about taking better care of the public.”

Despite the surface outside his home eventually being repaired it quickly deteriorated again, said Mr Neville.

“The patchwork was terrible, it has all gone again.

“They inspect once a year, but a lot can happen in a year… it needs to be more urgent.”

Thomas Brinkley, 80, of Greensted Road, Loughton also welcomed the review but called for a better quality of work.

His car was damaged twice last year after hitting separate potholes and he said he was worried someone could get seriously hurt in an accident.

He said: “Sometimes when they do the work, the filling slips out after a couple of weeks.

“They need to inspect and make sure they are using the right materials.

“I think the review would be a good idea, not from my point of view but from other people’s – it is important for their safety.”

Cllr. Kendall said: “The time taken to repair potholes - and the size they need to be before anything is done - is a source of great anger and frustration to Essex residents… they are fed up with the damage being caused to their vehicles.”

Highways and transport councillor Rodney Bass said he would not comment on possible changes to policy until after the meeting next week.