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Potholes in England 'deeper than Grand Canyon'

15 Aug 2019

Potholes in England 'deeper than Grand Canyon'

Anyone who treats themselves to a new car wants to ensure they keep it looking as pristine as the day they got it for as long as possible.

However, that is looking increasingly unlikely in England, with new figures revealing the ever-growing blight of potholes on the roads we drive.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has obtained data showing nearly 700,000 new potholes were reported on England's highways over the past year, which marks a 13 per cent rise on the year before.

This amounts to a new one being documented every 43 seconds - and the combined depth of these holes would be 28km, or 15 times deeper than the Grand Canyon.

North-eastern England was the worst region for new potholes with more than 100,000 complaints, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 92,000.

In 2018-19, councils faced a staggering bill of £949 million to repair them.

National chairman of the FSB Mike Cherry said: "These figures show just how widespread the issue is and it's clear that the government and local authorities need to sit up and take notice. Measures like more funding for local authorities and improving the coordination between authorities and utility companies will go some way in helping ease the burden."

A report published recently by the Asphalt Industry Alliance suggested more than 40,000 miles of the UK's roads could become unusable by 2023, with councils facing a £556 million funding shortfall for pothole repairs.

The pothole crisis was described by MPs on the Commons Transport Select Committee as a "national scandal", while the AA went a step further and declared it a "national emergency".

Motorists are likely to agree, with the RAC stating last year that it had recorded a three-year high between April and June for vehicle breakdowns relating to potholes.

Among the damage recorded was broken springs, distorted wheels and ruined shock absorbers, all of which would be costly for drivers - and more than a little disappointing for anyone enjoying a spin in a brand new car.