“Dreadful” pothole repairs are forcing drivers into the middle of a busy Chalfont St Peter road – leaving a resident fearing it is an “accident waiting to happen”.

Village resident Debbie Walker told the Bucks Free Press the corner of Rickmansworth Lane is a busy road at peak times – and the terrible state of the tarmac in the corner is forcing drivers into the middle of the road.

Mrs Walker said the potholes, near the Dumb Bell pub, were “fixed” by Bucks County Council’s transport arm Transport for Bucks on Wednesday, January 15 – but questioned how the shoddy work is an acceptable use of taxpayers’ cash.

Her concerns come just days after Bucks County Council pleaded with the government for more cash to fix potholes.

Figures produced by the County Councils Network (CCN) last week showed the 36 shire counties in the analysis were able to spend an average £20,885 per mile on road repairs, pothole filling, and building new junctions and roads last year.

By contrast, London councils were able to spend an average £62,350 per mile.

Mark Shaw, Bucks County Council deputy leader and transport cabinet member, said that while the authority was investing more than £20 million in roads in the current financial year, it was still well below what he would like to see invested to bring all the county's roads up to scratch.

Mrs Walker said: “I was interested in reading about Bucks CC’s calls for more government (i.e. taxpayers) money to be allocated to fix the dire state of roads in Bucks.

“The uncomfortable truth is that the problem with Bucks roads is the result of decades of under investment by Bucks CC, and the dreadful repairs carried out by TfB.”

Sharing a video of the state of recent repairs to Rickmansworth Lane, Mrs Walker added: “This corner of the lane is a busy road at peak times and the poor state of the surface at this corner forces drivers into the middle of the road - an accident waiting to happen.

“Mr Shaw should be asked to explain how this standard of repair is acceptable, and indeed a good use of taxpayers money.”

In response to the concerns, a county council spokesman said: “Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) is aware of the defects on Rickmansworth Lane, Chalfont St Peter.

“The current repairs shown in the video are temporary make safe repairs. It has not been possible to carry out full repairs here due to a lot of the defects being under water.

“We understand the need for permanent repairs here and the road has been added to our Plane and Patch programme which will begin in the spring. When the programme begins, Rickmansworth Lane will be treated as a priority.”