New dedicated fund should help fix extra 30,000 potholes across Wales Senedd told

Wrexham: This week, there were some serious discussions in Cardiff Bay about how to keep our roads in shape. With tight budgets, it’s a big concern for local councils.

Ken Skates, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, addressed the issue in the Senedd. He mentioned a new fund for 2025-26 aimed at fixing road defects. This is all about keeping our communities connected. Plus, there’s a local borrowing fund coming up to help with road repairs.

Carolyn Thomas raised a point about Flintshire needing £3.9 million just to maintain their roads. That’s a hefty gap! She welcomed any funding and suggested they need a budget to plan ahead for road maintenance, especially during dry spells.

Skates was open to the idea and said he’d look into it. He emphasized how crucial the local borrowing initiative is, especially since many councils are facing similar challenges. It’s a tough situation, a result of years of budget cuts.

He shared that the local borrowing initiative could help local authorities finance £60 million in road repairs next year. On top of that, there’s a £25 million fund specifically for fixing around 30,000 potholes on major roads.

If you do the math, that could mean fixing about 100,000 potholes in total across both local and strategic roads. It’s a big task, but they’re committed to working closely with local councils to make it happen.