Potholes are still a nightmare, and despite pre-election pledges from Labour to fix an extra million per year, the numbers are actually going down.
According to the latest ALARM report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), 1.9 million potholes were filled across the UK last year. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, in 2023, that number was two million. If Labour were sticking to their promise, the figure should’ve been way higher by now. Since their first six months in power covered half of 2024, they should have added another 500,000 repairs to the count. Instead, they’re already falling 600,000 behind schedule.
It’s no surprise then that 94% of local councils told the AIA they’ve seen zero improvement in road conditions. When Auto Express asked the Government if it had already broken its promise, a spokesperson from the Department for Transport doubled down, announcing an extra £1.6 billion to help councils resurface roads—claiming it could fix up to seven million potholes next year.
That sounds like a lot of money, but the AIA’s report says it’s a drop in the ocean. The actual cost to fix Britain’s roads properly? A staggering £16.81 billion. And things are only getting worse. Right now, one in six roads has less than five years of life left, and on average, UK streets are resurfaced only once every 93 years.
The RAC’s CEO, Simon Williams, summed it up: “[it] paints a bleak picture of the state of the nation’s roads and confirms what a majority of drivers have known for a long time – that in far too many parts of the country, road surfaces are simply not fit-for-purpose”.
There is a glimmer of hope, though. AIA chairperson Simon Giles welcomed the Government’s recent recognition of the problem and, along with Councillor Adam Hug from the Local Government Association, called for road maintenance funding to be ring-fenced in the next spending review. They want a five-year plan to ensure local roads are treated as seriously as motorways.
So, do you think the Government will finally get a grip on Britain’s pothole problem? Or will our roads just keep crumbling? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
