£25m committed to Wales’ potholes

The Welsh Government has committed to repairing the most deteriorated roads across Wales, with a pledge to fix thousands of potholes. An additional £25 million has been allocated to improve major roads and prevent an estimated 30,000 defects over the coming year.

The investment will allow for the resurfacing of an extra 100km of the road network in the next financial period. Recent figures highlight the growing cost of pothole-related vehicle damage, with the AA reporting that UK motorists spent a record £579 million on repairs last year, up from £474 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the RAC estimates that drivers encounter around six potholes per mile on council-maintained roads in England and Wales.

The UK Government has also announced a £1.6 billion fund to repair roads and fix over seven million potholes across England in 2024.

Since 2021, Wales has spent over £81 million resurfacing approximately 321km of trunk roads. With planned spending for 2025-26, total investment in road maintenance is expected to reach £118 million, covering repairs to more than 500km of damaged roads.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, emphasised the importance of maintaining roads, stating: “It is essential that we repair our road network. I am pleased to announce an additional £25 million to support a comprehensive refurbishment programme, enhancing the resilience of major routes and reducing pothole formation.”

He also confirmed that further financial support for local authorities to repair smaller roads would be detailed in the coming weeks.

Beyond road maintenance, Skates highlighted significant investment in public transport, including £800 million for new trains and planned legislation to improve bus services. He reinforced the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure across Wales, ensuring better connectivity between communities.