Councils must prove road repairs or lose millions in funding as the government clamps down on potholes
The government has issued a stark ultimatum to local councils across England: fix potholes or forfeit millions in funding. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that local authorities must prove their progress in road maintenance or risk losing up to 25% of a £500m funding boost.
The money comes from a £1.6bn pot allocated for road repairs, with funds set to start flowing in mid-April. However, councils must now publish annual reports outlining their spending, the number of potholes filled, and their long-term road maintenance strategies. Those who fail to meet these conditions will see a quarter of their funding withheld, with the money redistributed to councils that deliver results.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the tough stance, warning that neglected roads put lives at risk and impose hefty repair bills on drivers and businesses. He insisted that councils already have the money to get to work.
According to RAC data, there are currently six potholes for every mile of road in England and Wales, highlighting the scale of the problem.
The government has also demanded that councils consult local communities on where repairs should take place. By October, councils must show that they have engaged residents in their road repair plans—another condition for receiving the full funding.
While the policy only applies to England, as road funding is devolved in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, it follows Labour’s election promise to fix up to a million potholes a year.
The Local Government Association (LGA) acknowledged that extra funding would help tackle the £17bn road repair backlog but criticised the government’s short-term approach. It argued that councils need long-term funding certainty to focus on preventative measures, rather than the more costly cycle of reactive pothole repairs.
Critics across the political spectrum have slammed the policy. Shadow Transport Secretary Gareth Bacon called it a “pothole sticking plaster”, accusing Labour of chasing headlines rather than offering real solutions. Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Paul Kohler echoed the sentiment, warning that individual pothole repairs do little to address “crumbling road infrastructure”.
With councils under increasing pressure to deliver results, the battle over Britain’s battered roads is set to intensify. Whether this latest initiative will bring lasting improvements—or simply fuel another political row—remains to be seen.
