UK city with the most potholed roads revealed – is your town on the list?
SOUTHEND, proud home of the world’s longest pleasure pier, now has another, unwanted claim to fame — Britain’s most potholed roads.
One in four of the Essex coastal city’s B and C roads, and 15 per cent of its A roads, were identified as in need of resurfacing from 2018 to 2023.
Derbyshire is next worst, then Hackney, East London, while Redcar & Cleveland in North Yorks is best, Department for Transport figures show.
Newham, Barnet, Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham also made the worst 10 places for potholes in the country.
Builder James Matthews, 31, said in Southend’s pitted Southbourne Grove: “I’ve had to replace three tyres because of potholes and the car is not even two years old.”
Oliver Thompson, a vehicle expert from car inspection service said the whole of Britain is blighted by potholes and they often cause in unnecessary damage.
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He said: “Poor road maintenance can mean issues for your car, with risk of damage being done.
"It can also have a big effect on road safety as well.”
Drivers, meanwhile, could be fined £2,500 if police judge an attempt to dodge a pothole is driving without due care.
A spokesman for Southend-on-Sea City Council told The Sun: "Using average figures based on data going back to 2018 is no way to judge the state of our roads in 2024, with our latest figures now at 9% and 11%.
"We also use the more accurate Gaist survey system which is kerb to kerb and more reflective of actual condition, compared to those who use scanner surveys which only measure the width of a vehicle.
"However, it does highlight how much work and investment has been needed over the last five years to improve our roads and tackle the blight of potholes.
"Whilst there is always more work to do, our highways team are one of the most responsive in the region and our new approach to permanent repairs and resurfacing is making a visible difference in the local area, as demonstrated by our latest figures which bear no resemblance to those from 2018."
