Plymouth: The UK Seaside City Struggling with Pothole Problems
Plymouth faces a severe pothole crisis, with minimal road repairs completed last year, leaving many roads in disrepair.
Plymouth, UK, Potholes, Road Repairs, Labour, Government
Last year, the city barely fixed any roads. They only managed to repair one mile out of 135 miles that really needed it. That’s just 0.7%!
The Labour-run council is at the top of the list for the worst repairs, with the Isle of Wight not far behind. They’ve only fixed 0.1% of their flagged roads.
On the flip side, Norfolk County Council is doing great. They’ve repaired 92% of their roads that needed fixing. Lucky locals there are enjoying smooth rides!
This info comes from the Department for Transport, and it really highlights how bad the pothole issue is across the country.
There are an estimated 11.5 million potholes still causing trouble on Britain’s roads. The government and local councils are facing a huge backlog that’s costing billions.
Insurance experts have noticed that claims related to potholes have nearly tripled in the last five years. The costs jumped from £1 million in 2019 to a staggering £2.8 million just this year.
Claims have also shot up from 475 in 2019 to 832 by late 2024. Caroline Johnson from Allianz UK mentioned that the damage from potholes is so bad that sometimes it’s not even worth fixing the car.
The RAC reported a massive number of breakdowns last year due to pothole-related issues.
In response, Labour has promised £1.6 billion to help fix these damaged roads. Most of that money will go to local councils, while the government will hold some back for those that can prove they’re making repairs.
Recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pointed out how shocking the state of Britain’s roads is, saying drivers are constantly dodging potholes and spending loads on car repairs.