Fermanagh and Omagh District Council may be on course to become the first local authority in Northern Ireland to benefit from a JCB Pothole Pro machine as Department for Infrastructure (DfI) officials have indicated a willingness to assist in a live demonstration of the machinery.

Councillor Bernice Swift, Independent, who has championed the initiative, previously told a meeting of the Environmental Services Committee that DfI hierarchy “haven’t been very forthcoming or engaging”.

She claimed: “The responses have been a complete brush-off and misleading to all councillors, and I am appalled.”

Efforts to bring the Department on board were largely rebuffed, although it was stressed funding was not an issue, but rather, health and safety was a deciding factor.

However, having obtained facts from JCB which “totally rebukes the Western Division position”, Councillor Swift pointed out seven years’ work has been done in 12 months, hailing this as amazing statistic and there is no safer way to permanently repair defects.

“This machine eliminates a lot of risk and reduces much specialist kit movement on site. The sustainability argument is ridiculous when you see and hear the facts.

“The machine does five pieces of work in one go, and the good definitely outweighs the bad.

“It would be totally unwise of us to dismiss this very good idea,” she added.

During a subsequent meeting at which DfI officials were in attendance, members heard from Mark Morrell, who has extensive experience in campaigning against potholes in Stoke-on-Trent, and Mark Johnston, Senior Engineer in Louth County Council.

Both areas have used the JCB Pothole Pro, and fully endorse its many features including safety, speed, efficiency and success rates.

Also present at the meeting was DfI official, Daniel Healy, Divisional Roads Manager, who has now given the green light for a demonstration.

Describing this as positive progress, Councillor Swift said: “It was made clear to DfI what was required and after Mark Johnston provided his presentation, and thereafter [after hearing] Mark Morrell’s evidence, I proposed once again that all associated benefits must be further explored.”

To that end: “Members agreed and supported a live demonstration [of the pothole fixing machine], and [the] Council [is] now liaising with DfI.

“Arrangements are under way to locate one or more suitable locations for a trial within the Council area, and DfI have agreed to provide asphalt to facilitate the demonstration.”

Councillor Swift told the meeting the essential maintenance on rural roads is at an all-time-limited service, and: “I feel strongly that the evidence overwhelmingly suggests the Pothole Pro machine is a permanent solution [to fixing potholes].

“We are now at the stage where the Council will liaise with DFI to help propose a scheme of suitable repair locations for the Pothole Pro machine trial in the near future, and thereafter it will be a matter for robust assessment by DfI to invest.”

She concluded: “I’m really delighted that with my continued determination to resolve the pothole problem, [the Council] has successfully secured a free trial [of the JCB Pothole Pro machine].

“DfI have now agreed to work with JCB in what the first trial in Northern Ireland of the Pothole Pro will be, and hopefully, once successful, could be the start of permanently fixing our rural roads network.”