New Funding Promises Doubling of Pothole Repairs
Ealing Council had been reducing maintenance in recent years
The council says this is the largest ever funding for pothole repairs. Picture: Ealing Council
May 29, 2025
After seeing a drop in the number of pothole repairs carried out in the borough, Ealing Council looks set significantly boost work on improving road conditions.
The financial year ending in 2023 saw the number of repairs more that half, which was the largest percentage decrease among UK council. Part of the fall was attributed to a trial of thermal repairs which heats and reuses existing road materials, reducing asphalt usage and carbon emissions. The council also made a move towards risk-based assessments and increased the intervention depth threshold to 40mm.
Now the council has been given £945,000 in what it describes as its largest ever funding boost from the government specifically to tackle the borough’s pothole problem, from now until March 2026. It is hoping this will enable the doubling of the number of repairs. The previous year’s funding was £291,000.
Half the funding in the borough will be spent on a new ‘drive and repair’ programme, which will include daily patrols that will fix potholes immediately. Currently, main roads are inspected every month, and minor roads every 6 months, and if a pothole is spotted repairs are commissioned.
The new programme will run alongside the current inspections, and it’s hoped that it will not only prevent potholes from getting worse but could more than double the repair rate.
The other half of the funding will be used for resurfacing works on key roads at locations including the Lido Junction in West Ealing and the A40 / Argyle Road junction, in Perivale. Further details will be available on the council website in June.
More than 3,500 potholes are identified or reported each year in the borough but, in recent years, the number of repairs has fallen well below this level.
The funding is part of the government’s £1.6billion package to tackle the ‘scourge of potholes.’ In return, councils must prove progress via annual reports which are to be published on the councils web site.
Ealing Council leader Peter Mason said. “Potholes are a real problem, and I understand how frustrating they are for residents. This is the biggest investment we’ve ever had for pothole repairs, and it’s going to make a huge difference to our roads. We’ll be looking at a new approach to increase our rate of repairs, plus some much-needed resurfacing works.”
Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: “This funding is exactly what we need to improve our roads, ensuring our residents are safe whether driving, cycling or walking. This is the first time we’re using an approach like ‘drive and repair’ and I’m confident we will see the desired results.”
The council aims to make dangerous potholes safe within 24 hours and complete permanent repairs within 7 days.
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