Labour-run council fixes just one mile in 60 of dangerous pothole-ridden roads

A city council managed to repair a mere 1.5 miles of roads in the year ending March 2025, despite having 60 miles of streets requiring urgent attention. Birmingham City Council, which is already under fire for its handling of the ongoing bin strikes, fixed just 2.5 per cent of the backroads in Britain's second largest city that needed pothole filling and resurfacing work. Department for Transport statistics reveal that Labour-controlled authorities dominated the list of worst performers for road maintenance. Of the 16 councils that completed repairs on fewer than 10 per cent of roads flagged for work, 10 were under Labour control at the time. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The figures emerge despite the Government's manifesto commitment to fill one million potholes and improve the nation's B and C road network. St Helens, another Labour-run authority, performed similarly poorly, with just 1.2 miles of repairs completed from 44 miles of roads marked as needing work. Even in the affluent north London borough of Islington, a traditional Labour stronghold, only 0.4 miles of minor roads received attention. Milton Keynes, known for its car-centric design, saw a mere 6.7 per cent of roads requiring maintenance actually fixed. The breakdown of the 16 worst-performing councils shows a clear political pattern: alongside the 10 Labour authorities, three were Conservative-run, while the remaining three operated under no overall control. By contrast, Labour-led Sandwell Council in the Midlands exceeded expectations, upgrading 25.3 miles of roads despite only nine miles being identified as needing repairs. Richard Holden, the Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary, condemned what he described as another broken Labour promise. "Their manifesto pledged to fix potholes, yet in too many Labour-run councils, roads are being left to crumble while drivers pay the price," he told The Sun. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS 'Like the surface of the moon!' Britain's pothole plight blasted as cost of repairs reach £18.6BILLION Pothole crisis requires £18bn in repairs as drivers resort to abusing workers - 'Shouted at, spat at, and even hit' Labour urged to launch five-year warranty for pothole repairs as drivers face £645million in damages Mr Holden questioned the value of Labour's manifesto commitments, adding: "If their manifesto isn't worth the paper it's written on, they should at least deliver this commitment, because only the Conservatives can be trusted to fix our roads and get Britain working again." The Department for Transport spokesman said: "We do not recognise these figures. After years of underinvestment, we’re providing a record £7.3billion in long-term funding, to help councils resurface roads and fix the pothole plague. "We’re already seeing progress, with 15 per cent more pothole‑prevention works carried out in 2025 compared to 2024 and reversing a nearly decade-long decline in road repair works. "We’re doing our part, delivering record funding and a new ratings system, and we will hold councils to account, ensuring they use this money to plan ahead and deliver safer, smoother journeys." A new report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance has calculated that restoring local roads across England and Wales to acceptable standards would now cost a record £18.6billion. The research found that just 51 per cent of the local road network is currently in good condition, with the AIA describing the situation as "a national disgrace". David Giles, the AIA chairman, said: "I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace." The report concluded that additional investment aimed at tackling potholes has not produced "noticeable improvements" for motorists. On average, roads are being resurfaced only once every 97 years, with 1.9 million potholes filled during the past year. The AA's President Edmund King cautioned that "much more needs to be done to eradicate this plague of potholes". He added: "We have been seeing with our own eyes, and feeling with our wheels, how record wet weather linked to substandard roads has led to many local roads becoming patchwork obstacle courses." A Department for Transport spokesperson stated the Government is "already seeing progress, with 15 per cent more pothole prevention works carried out in 2025 compared to 2024 and reversing a nearly decade-long decline in road repair works." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Go to News Site