Potholes fuel voter frustration before elections - so what can be done?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Potholes fuel voter frustration before elections - so what can be done? 8 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Richard Wheeler Political reporter Getty Images Many voters heading to the polls in Thursday's English local elections will have one subject at the top of their agenda - the state of the roads in their area. Opinion polls suggest potholes are right up there with the cost of living, health services and crime as the key deciding issue for how they will vote.

From the risk of damage to vehicles costing hundreds of pounds to the danger for those travelling on bikes or by foot, potholes can also be a visible sign of a community's upkeep. The UK government said it wants to end the "pothole plague" although Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who is responsible for roads in England, struck a pothole and damaged her Mini Cooper last month . Alexander joked she "thought that the astronauts on Artemis II might have seen a similar-size crater" during their recent voyage around the Moon, a comment that attracted criticism from her local authority.

The Details

People contacting the 's Your Voice have reported their roads becoming "undriveable" and "dreadful" due to potholes while also raising questions about the response of their councils. But what is the situation facing councils responsible for maintaining the local road network in their area and how are they approaching it? Industry body the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) outlined the scale of the task in its 2026 survey released in March.

It said the cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch would be an estimated £18. 6bn and it could take 12 years to clear despite an increase in funding. The AIA said the survey results reported 1.

9 million potholes were filled over the past year. Mark Morrell, dubbed Mr Pothole, has spent several years campaigning for improvements If one man embodies the battle to improve the state of our roads, it's a campaigner dubbed Mr Pothole . Angered by unmet promises made to voters, Mr Pothole - real name Mark Morrell - has written a poem entitled Hypocrisy on the Highway in which he notes "once the ballots are all cast, their urgency fades - shockingly fast" after the "pledges quietly derail".

What Experts Say

Morrell, who talks about "pothole Britain", advised councillors to get on top of the detail, be upfront about the scale of the challenge and outline a realistic plan should they win power. Northamptonshire-based Morrell, who established National Pothole Day in 2015, said: "They need to find out what they're talking about before making statements. " He said that if he was standing for election, he would want to know "how many potholes you've got, what the backlog is, what the details are and say what I could really do".

Morrell, who said he has given advice to councillors and candidates who have contacted him, also spoke of the need for better training and repair techniques to respond to potholes, and an "invest to save" approach.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.