ISSUES with roads and paths were the main reason residents contacted their local ward councillor over the last seven months.

Figures show that since August last year, councillors logged more than 1,500 calls through the Members' Hotline, the official method to register residents’ requests.

By far the most number of calls were put in about highways, with a total of 519 logged. Someway behind, in second place, were ‘green areas’, with street cleaning in third place.

These were not necessarily complaints on issues and may cover simple requests by residents.

Although there are other means by which councillors can deal with issues put to them, the one who has put in the most calls has been unofficially dubbed ‘the hardest working councillor’ in the past.

Coming in top of the list over this period is Labour’s Old Town councillor, Nadine Watts. Since August she has put in 136, more than any other of her colleagues, and attended all meetings.

She said: “The residents of Old Town and East Wichel expect their councillors to work hard to ensure the area looks as good as it can be and to assist them with any issues they have.

“I hope by showing this table it shows that I have kept my commitment to residents during the 2014 election that I would work hard for them.

“However, dealing with residents’ enquiries is not the only part of being a good councillor and I also take part in community events, attend residents’ meetings and I have a 100 per cent attendance for council meetings.’’

In second place is Coun Tim Swinyard, the Conservative member for Lydiard and Freshbrook, who put in 78 calls.

He said the hotline provided an easy way of registering a concern of his residents.

“I have found this an extremely helpful and efficient service, particularly as a new councillor, to help residents as it gives me a single point to direct all of our enquiries which can then be passed on to the right team,” he said.

“Individual cases can take any length of time to deal with, depending on the complexity of the case in question, and this allows me to keep track of each case as it progresses.

“As a councillor, I was elected to help residents and I am pleased that my drive to do so is reflected in the number of cases I have dealt with.”