VOLUNTEER 'super users' are being enlisted to find potholes and speed up the process of getting them fixed.

Oxfordshire County Council has trained three residents to investigate defects in Witney raised on the website FixMyStreet and place orders to repair them.

The pilot scheme, in partnership with Witney Town Council, is part of the Oxfordshire Together (OXTOG) initiative, which sees county, town and parish councils work together to deliver public services.

Super users can also alert the council's contracters to defects they find themselves thanks to their new powers, which have been part-driven by Witney town councillor, Vicky Gwatkin.

She said: "It’s about shifting our focus back to community priorities and the end results we want to achieve.

"Then all working together - residents, businesses and the town, district and county councils - to determine the most effective way of getting there with the resources we have.

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"There will inevitably be some trial and error, and all initiatives will be subject to ongoing review, but we hope a proactive, collaborative and grown up approach will both empower and benefit our whole community."

OXTOG comprises community-led children's and highway services, but until now the latter has focussed on areas such as grass cutting, school crossing patrols and drainage notices.

The council is now trying to broaden initiatives under OXTOG, to the 'delight' of Laura Price, of Witney South and Central, who has also been involved.

The county councillor said: "Residents and councillors working together across different levels of local authority is just the kind of innovation that we know people want to see."

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Super users are trained to spot if a pothole is large enough to warrant fixing, based on county council guidance.

This only applies to minor roads that can be safely examined, with urgent, larger repairs dealt with by the county council.

Another one or two super users could be added to the pilot, which may be rolled out across the county, with the group working closely with the region's highways inspector.

Ms Gwatkin also revealed the town council is 'in the early days' of forming a community action group, which will build a 'bank' of volunteers for similar initiatives.