UK roads to benefit from ‘longer-time fixes’ with huge £1.6bn boost to tackle ‘number one issue’
Drivers around the UK could soon see a huge drop in the number of potholes blighting roads as the Government marks National Pothole Day with a huge £1.6billion investment.
Today, Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood is visiting JCB’s factory outside Derby today, inspecting innovative solutions to tackle Britain’s road maintenance challenges.
The visit comes as the Government commits £1.6 billion to resurface roads across England, with Derbyshire set to receive particular attention.
Derbyshire, identified by the RAC as England’s worst area for potholes, will benefit from an additional £20million allocated to the East Midlands County Combined Authority.
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The investment is expected to enable councils to fix up to seven million more potholes nationwide.
During her visit, the Roads Minister will operate JCB’s advanced machinery and meet with local leaders to discuss targeted pothole repair strategies for Derbyshire’s communities.
New figures reveal a decline in pothole-related incidents across the UK, with the AA attending 643,318 cases in 2024, down from 647,690 in 2023.
However, repair costs have risen significantly, with the average repair bill increasing from £250 to £300 due to inflation, parts supply chain delays, and advanced vehicle technology.
The total cost of pothole damage to vehicles reached £579million in 2024, up from £474million the previous year.
The AA reports that more than 1,700 drivers per day still face vehicle damage from road defects, typically affecting tyres, wheels, steering or suspension.
Despite earning the unwanted “bronze medal” for the worst year for potholes, experts hope the Government’s £1.6billion funding initiative will improve conditions in 2025.
At JCB’s factory, the Roads Minister will witness the capabilities of the Pothole Pro, a machine that can repair a pothole in just eight minutes at a cost of around £30. It is currently being utilised by 20 local authorities across the country.
The Pothole Partnership, comprising organisations including The AA, British Cycling, JCB and the National Motorcyclists Council, has welcomed these technological advances.
The Partnership is pressing local authorities to adopt higher standards by investing in more technology and proactive repairs, moving away from temporary solutions.
AA president Edmund King offered an optimistic perspective, saying: “There is some light at the end of the pothole tunnel.
“The Government has listened to the Pothole Partnership and is beginning to instigate policies that should lead to longer-term fixes rather than the recent patchwork approach.”
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He added that while car incidents had declined, rising repair costs remained a concern, noting that “potholes are still the number one issue for drivers and more needs to be done to build on this improvement”.
JCB General Manager Ben Rawding emphasised the importance of proper funding management: “Extra funding is welcome but the way it is managed and spent is equally as important. Using innovative technology such as the JCB Pothole Pro means roads can be fixed faster, more permanently and in a more cost-effective manner. Local authorities need to change tack.”
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: “We’ll continue to engage with local leaders and industry to ensure innovations are being used to deliver roads the country deserves.”