Pothole Crisis: West Midlands Roads a 'National Disgrace'

The state of local roads has been decried as a "national disgrace" following a report detailing the substantial cost of repairing potholes. The Asphalt Industry Alliance's latest ALARM survey indicates a £1.94bn backlog for road repairs in the West Midlands, where only 46% of carriageways are deemed to be in good condition. This situation means noticeable improvements are still a distant prospect.

Local authorities in the West Midlands would have needed an additional £117m last year to maintain their road networks to target conditions and halt further decline. Councils across Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, and Worcestershire are affected. The UK government has committed £1.6bn for pothole repairs over the next four years, a sum authorities have noted is not a complete solution.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged past underinvestment in the national road network, stating that improvements will take time. She mentioned that recent severe weather has also impacted road quality. The government has increased its commitment by £500m, bringing the total to £1.6bn, with an emphasis on ensuring councils spend funds wisely and invest in preventative measures like resurfacing for better long-term value.

In a significant regional move, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has doubled highway maintenance funding to £240m for six councils, covering a five-year period from April 2027. This funding aims to address the pervasive pothole problem and is part of a broader, holistic investment in the region's transport network, which includes buses, rail, and the Metro. The Mayor also highlighted a £2.4bn settlement from the government for strategic transport priorities in the region.