Potholes on the Increase in Carmarthenshire due to Council Cutbacks
A concerning trend has emerged in Carmarthenshire, where the number of potholes on the roads has doubled in just a year. According to a report, more than 10,000 potholes were recorded on Carmarthenshire’s roads in 2024, almost twice the number from the previous year. The figures show a significant escalation compared to the average of around 2,000 potholes per year that the county typically dealt with before 2022.
The rise in potholes has been attributed to decreased investment in preventative road maintenance, leading to a road maintenance backlog now estimated at £77 million. The council’s highway asset management plan highlighted the impact of sustained low levels of investment, warning that the road deterioration is expected to continue. This worrying trend is compounded by the lack of Welsh Government grants for road repairs in the upcoming years.
Despite the challenges, the council is taking steps to address the issue. Pothole repair work has been intensified, with nearly 4,400 defects fixed between October 2023 and March 2024. Additionally, innovative measures, such as using recycled nappies in road schemes, have been implemented to save costs and deliver environmental benefits. Despite these efforts, concerns loom over the council’s planned cuts in road sweeping and gully cleaning as part of broader savings measures for 2025-26.
The council’s highway asset manager emphasised the need to target resources efficiently amid budget constraints. However, councillors have raised alarms over the potential impacts of cutting essential road maintenance services. Members of the council’s place, sustainability, and climate change scrutiny committee have acknowledged the diligent work of the highways department but expressed reservations about the proposed cuts.
Councillors are advocating for alternative proposals to preserve crucial services like road sweeping and gully cleaning. With concerns mounting over the council’s budget plans for 2025-26, there is a call for prudent allocation of resources to maintain road infrastructure effectively. The council’s cabinet member for climate change stressed the importance of finding a balance between cost-saving measures and preserving vital road maintenance services to ensure road safety and quality for residents.
The asset plan outlined the council’s need to allocate £8 million annually to keep the road network in a “stand-still” condition. The current budgetary constraints pose a challenge to meeting this target, raising fears that a significant proportion of roads in Carmarthenshire could deteriorate over the next decade. As the council grapples with financial pressures, finding sustainable solutions to address the growing maintenance needs of the road network remains a key priority.