1.5 million potholes after big freeze

The number of potholes on UK roads has soared to 1.5 million during two weeks of freezing weather, according to the AA.

Road damage has increased 40% and the country ‘teeters on local road collapse’, the Association says.

It said in a statement the problem was compounded by a ‘maintenance backlog that was already going to cost £1 billion and take 11 years to put straight’.

The Association also identified a list ‘notorious pothole hotspots’:
• Ashford, Middlesex
• Acton, London
• Ipswich, Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Botley and Hedge End in Southampton
• Basingstoke
• Ringwood
• The New Forest
• Salisbury

AA President Edmund King said “Once again the fabric of our local roads is a major cause for concern with surfaces crumbling and drivers and riders at risk of damage to their vehicles and even themselves.

“We have gone from a salt crisis to a hole crisis. We have indeed had a bad winter but the poor state of our local roads has visually got worse in the last few weeks.”

• MCN wants your help to find the worst potholes to emerge from the snow and ice. Email your pothole photos to steve.farrell@motorcyclenews.com including a daytime phone number.