Potholes are one of the most visible signs of Britain's crumbling local infrastructure and a significant issue in Reform UK's engagement with local communities. The UK has an estimated backlog of over 1 million potholes, costing motorists billions in vehicle damage each year.
Why Britain's Roads Are Falling Apart
Decades of underinvestment in road maintenance, combined with local council budget cuts and increasingly severe winters, have left UK roads in poor condition. The cost of fixing the backlog has reached an estimated £16 billion.
Reform UK's Approach
Reform UK wants to ring-fence local roads funding so councils cannot redirect it to other budget areas. They also propose requiring councils to report annually on road conditions and face accountability for persistent failure to maintain the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reform UK wants to fund a national roads repair programme to fix the UK's pothole crisis. They argue years of council budget cuts and diversion of road maintenance funds have left UK roads in a dangerous state.
The Asphalt Industry Alliance estimated there are over 1 million potholes across UK local roads at any one time. Filling the backlog would cost an estimated £16 billion. Road surfaces are at their worst level on record in many parts of the country.
Local councils are responsible for maintaining local roads. The national trunk road network is maintained by National Highways. Successive governments have cut local council road maintenance budgets, creating the current backlog.
Reform UK wants dedicated road maintenance funding for local councils, ending the diversion of roads budgets into other services. They also want councils to face penalties for failing to maintain their road network to a minimum standard.
Yes, if a local authority has failed to maintain a road to a reasonable standard, you can claim compensation for vehicle damage caused by a pothole. Claims are made to the relevant council's highways department.
Other Reform UK Policy Areas
Find Your Local Branch
Get involved with Reform UK in your constituency.