‘National disgrace’: pothole repair backlog hits record £18.6bn in England and Wales

Only half the road network is in good condition despite 1.9m repairs last year, says industry body A losing battle with potholes has now seen the backlog of repairs across England and Wales reach a record £18.6bn, according to an annual industry estimate, despite councils filling in about 1.9m holes last year. The “national disgrace” of dangerously pockmarked local roads has been exacerbated by a notably wet winter, with only half of the network now reported to be in good condition. The report, published by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), suggests that new holes may have expensively sprung up faster than additional government money can be sunk into the tarmac. The estimated cost of a one-off repair of all potholes has risen by £1.8bn since 2025, despite the government allocating £1.6bn last year, an additional £500m, to help local authorities fix their roads. David Giles, the chair of the AIA, said: “I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace.” He said its reports over the past decade showed the money needed to fully repair local roads had increased dramatically, adding: “The impact of frequent adverse