Proposals to address a Bradford community’s pothole hell are being considered by residents.

Villagers in Oakenshaw are fed up with the state of four roads which are perforated by unsightly and dangerous pot holes in unadopted roads consisting of rock and mud.

Rodger Shackleton, 62, of Armitage Road – one of the affected streets – said a car’s exhaust pipe was swiped off as it negotiated the bumps, while buses used to transport elderly and disabled people were taking five minutes to reverse along a 90-yard stretch. Illingworth Road, Walker Road and Cross Road were also in a poor state, he said.

As the roads are unadopted the Council is not responsible for maintaining them. Cross Road is an exception because it is classed as an ancient highway. Council workers carried out repairs in the street this week, filling in the road as they have done, residents say, as a stop-gap measure for years.

Mr Shackleton said he was concerned about the quality of the fillings which, he said, were not withstanding wet weather. “The Council should change the road surfaces to a material which drains when it rains,” he said.

A Bradford Council Highways spokesman said: “Cross Road is an ancient highway and is maintained to fit with the character of the highway. Repairs are ongoing and they will be inspected to ensure they are done to a suitable standard.

“Armitage Road, Illingworth Road and Walker Road are unadopted and the maintenance of the roads is the residents’ responsibility.

“The Council cannot carry out work on an unadopted road. We have spoken to residents in the area about the possibility of them arranging work to be carried out and we will help them with this.

“There is an adoption process that residents can go through but this involves the majority of residents agreeing to it and the costs associated with going through the process.”

David Rhodes, chairman of the Oakenshaw Residents’ Association, said the adoption process was too costly.

Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) is working with residents to find a solution. One way could involve residents partially adopting the roads at substantial discount. The Council would lay stop-gap coverings to improve the surfaces, but the quality would fall short of the standard of an adopted road. Only a portion of Cross Road’s surface could be altered due to its historical designation.

Coun Warburton added “It’s a major problem but it’s quite expensive going down the adoption route.”