RESIDENTS in Hellingly have hit out at what they describe as shocking and wasteful road repairs, saying the state of the carriageway exposes deep flaws in East Sussex Highways’ £297 million maintenance contract with Balfour Beatty.

The heavily used Park Road and New Road, which form part of a key bus route through the village, has become a patchwork of potholes, uneven surfaces and failed repairs, prompting concerns for drivers, cyclists and public transport.

Locals say the council’s current policy of only repairing potholes that meet specific criteria is failing in practice. As a result, one pothole may be patched while another just feet away is left to deteriorate, often forcing repeat visits within weeks and driving up costs.

Resident Bob Skipworth told Hailsham News: “The logic is baffling. You’ll see a hole filled, but the one next to it is ignored, then both fail and they’re back again. It’s ‘blob and come again’ road maintenance.”

Concerns have also been raised about the quality of the repairs themselves. Residents report poor preparation, minimal surfacing work and no effort to seal edges properly, allowing water to seep in and accelerate further damage.

One pothole repaired last summer is already said to be worse than before with mystery cabling now exposed beneath the broken surface.

The condition of the road has become so severe that residents warn that cycling along the route is dangerous.

Skipworth added: “Anyone on a bike is taking their life in their hands. You’re dodging holes filled with water, with no idea how deep they are.”

Adding to the hazards is a damaged roadside gully, which locals say now acts as a trap for unsuspecting cyclists rather than a drainage feature.

Images taken by residents and sent to Hailsham News show debris from potholes being thrown across pavements in Hellingly, raising further concerns for pedestrians and highlighting the wider impact of the road’s deterioration.

Residents are calling on East Sussex Highways to urgently review both the condition of the road and the wider repair policy, warning that continued short-term fixes are wasting public money while leaving vital infrastructure in a dangerous state.

Hailsham News has contacted East Sussex Highways for comment.