Council Responds to Surge in Potholes
Written by HFM News on 25th February 2026
Leicestershire County Council says a recent spike in potholes has been caused by prolonged wet weather, flooding, and freezing temperatures.
The authority, which maintains more than 2,500 miles of roads across towns, villages, and rural routes, has already seen pothole reports exceed typical winter levels this year.
Since May 2025, the council has carried out more than 7,000 repairs and to cope with rising demand, the council is recruiting extra inspectors to speed up assessments and ensure repair teams are sent to the most urgent issues.
However, continued wet conditions and freeze–thaw cycles are causing deeper damage to road surfaces and underlying layers, making new potholes more likely to form.
Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, is urging people to keep reporting potholes so repairs can be prioritised.
He said: “Storms, flooding and freezing weather have caused more damage, and that’s reflected in the rise in pothole reports. Our teams are working extremely hard to keep up, prioritising safety and aiming for permanent fixes wherever possible. I also want to thank residents for reporting potholes — it really helps our teams respond quickly and focus on the most urgent issues.
“Please keep reporting potholes to us, we will prioritise repairs and keep the network as safe as possible.”
Residents can report potholes through the council’s online system, which ensures issues are officially logged, inspected, and prioritised.
