We don’t love shining a spotlight on Bristol’s bad sides. We love this city we live in and love sharing all the amazing things to eat, see and do here. But we’re a little embarrassed by this latest news and we can’t keep it to ourselves. It appears that Bristol is the worst location for potholes in England.
In an analysis of local authority data, with research carried out by Compare the Market, the most damaged roads in England have been revealed. But chief among these terrible locations for potholes was Bristol’s roads – with an astonishing four out of five roads in desperate need of maintenance. The research showed that exactly 78.5% of roads were damaged.
That number feels even greater when you realise runner-up was Blackburn with Darwen at 76%, Cheshire West and Chester (72%), Derbyshire (71%) and Knowsley with only (only!) 64%. Some of the best roads in England, meanwhile, can be found in Redcar and Cleveland where only 9.5% of roads need repair work. Motorists in Stockton-on-Tees (12%) and Leeds (12.5%) can also enjoy many pothole-free roads.
If you’re hoping to speed along pothole-free roads in Bristol soon, you might be out of luck. The research found that just 0.4% of England’s road network will receive strengthening, resurfacing, or surface treatment by April. This burden of improving roads usually falls on local authorities’ shoulders. In Redcar and Cleveland, there are currently plans to improve 5.4km of roads over the next month – far more than the Bristol City Council plans for Bristol.
“Potholes are the bane of every driver’s life. Not only are they a road safety hazard, they can also cause significant damage to your car if you hit one,” said Julie Daniels, a motor insurance expert at Compare the Market.
“You can make a claim for pothole damage from the council or authority responsible for maintaining the road where the pothole was or you can make a fault claim on your car insurance if you have fully comprehensive cover. Nevertheless, more investment is needed to fix Britain’s disintegrating roads and help keep drivers safe.”
Potholes form when water enters cracks in the road and expand when frozen. A surge in potholes back in January can be explained by the large amounts of downpour and freezing temperatures in December. Thanks to the cold and rain returning this March, the future for the Bristol road network doesn’t look promising; the honour of being the worst location for potholes in England will likely remain intact.
To see the study head here.