Today, 22 April, CIHT launches a new article Potholes and poorly maintained footways: The cost to the NHS, highlighting the human cost of potholes and poorly maintained footways, including accidents, injuries and the risks of social exclusion. The article is available exclusively to CIHT members.  

Potholes are a big problem. Drivers in England and Wales encounter an average of six potholes per mile according to data from automotive services company RAC. The Automobile Association (AA) report that fixing potholes is a priority for 96% of drivers. 

The Government has taken steps to address the problem. In December 2024, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced an investment of almost £1.6 billion to fix potholes across England, pledging to address the equivalent of over 7 million extra potholes between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. 

This funding push is urgently needed to reverse the impacts of historic underinvestment. Between 2022 and 2023, just 1.4 million potholes were filled in England and Wales - down from 1.7 million the previous year. The National Audit Office (NAO)’s Condition and Maintenance of Local Roads in England report highlights that the condition of local roads has stagnated, with an increasing maintenance backlog estimated at £15.6 billion. Short-term funding cycles aggravate this issue, making it difficult for local authorities to adopt preventive maintenance strategies. Instead, they often resort to reactive measures, which are less cost-effective and exacerbate the long-term decline of the network.  

The quality of footways is equally poor. According to the AA, 75% of pedestrians encounter uneven pavements, and two thirds say overgrown vegetation encroaches onto paths...  

The full article is available to CIHT members here.