Derbyshire council’s transport chief has apologised for the state of the county’s pothole-ridden roads during the authority’s on-going struggle with reduced investment, ageing highways, terrible floods and freezing conditions.

Cllr Charlotte Cupit,  Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, has acknowledged the problems faced by Derbyshire’s road-users across the county with many potholes in desperate need of repair.

In a letter to the Derbyshire Times, addressed to residents, she stated: “We’re stating the obvious to say there’s been a massive increase in potholes to what we would usually see.

“We’re sorry for this. Whilst we always prepare for winter, the last few
months really have thrown exceptional things at us.

“Many communities, sadly, are still dealing with the destruction of October and Babet’s floods  – with a month of rain in a single day.  November’s freeze and snow, and December’s double the usual rainfall.

“You’re right though when you say this recent damage isn’t the only problem: this has been decades in the making with ageing highways and reducing investment comparatively.”

The determined council has been targeting road repairs with multi-million pound funding and hi-tech equipment and systems as a survey – released in the summer – claimed that Derbyshire was recently recorded as having the most potholes in the UK.

Mac’s Trucks Rental Pothole Analysis Report survey dubbed Derbyshire as “the pothole county of the UK” after ranking the county as the region with the most recorded potholes, from 2022, in the UK – claiming that the county had 90,596 potholes during that time.

Even though the council questioned the validity of the survey and has argued that Derbyshire has a diverse geography and a huge highways network, with 3,500 miles of road, 2,794 miles of footpaths, 1,182 highways bridges and many other assets to oversee, it does except there is a problem but it is being addressed.  

County Council Leader, Cllr Barry Lewis, has also argued that the council’s recording system for potholes includes minor roads unlike other Local Authorities’ records, which can produce unfair statistics.

Cllr Cupit stated: “We’re not going to fluff or filibuster with reams of stats or politics on what we’re facing.

“We’re filling hundreds of potholes each day and have extra teams on. It doesn’t matter though how many potholes we’re filling if the one outside your house or on your journey is still there.”

An Independent media outlet survey, in March, 2023, with Compare the Market data, claimed Derbyshire County Council was the fourth worst Local Authority in the UK for pothole repairs with allegedly 71 per cent of its roads in need of repairs, at that time.

But, in May, 2023, the council confirmed it had fixed as many as 42,036 potholes between January and May, 2023, and a national survey revealed that the local authority has recently fixed more potholes than any other highways authority in the country.  

During this purge, the council mobilised extra road workers who were working weekends and longer hours and they deployed jetpatcher machines with high velocity air streams to clear holes of debris and to lay and compact Tarmac.  

The council stated that it normally operates with 18 pothole gangs but since the beginning of the year it aims to increase this number to 30 and extra gangs are being created by moving road workers from other jobs.  

This followed research from the Bill Plant Driving School that had claimed Derbyshire was the county with the largest percentage of A-roads and motorways in a poor condition and requiring maintenance.  

Cllr Cupit has previously stated that in 2022 the council fixed 100,000 potholes and in 2023 it filled 90,000 potholes which shows the council is working hard to address the problems.  

But she says: “You, rightly, don’t care about the 90,000 we filled last year, just the ones that are there now. We’re also not doing comparisons with other counties. What matters is Derbyshire.”  

Cllr Cupit added that the council is ‘bumping up resources’ to deal with the current backlog and it is changing how it usually deals with things to focus on ‘wider fixes’ where it can.  

The council has also started a resurfacing patch programme of an extra 250 sites where it has identified pothole hotspots. 

Cllr Cupit stated: “We’ll post further updates over the next few weeks on this but, crucially, we want you to see it on the roads in action. We know that’s what will make the difference.” 

The council has conceded that it cannot always resurface every road immediately because all the budget and resources still would not make that possible given how wide an area the authority covers. 

Sometimes the weather or underlying road problems mean a repair will not last, according to the council, so it has to do temporary repairs to try to make things safe but Cllr Cupit stressed that the council does try to do permanent repairs or resurfacing where possible. 

Derbyshire County Council is also reviewing the materials and methods it uses so it can make sure it is using the most efficient and longest lasting solutions. 

The council has stated that constant freezing and thawing, followed by rainfall at the start of 2023 had led to roads cracking and causing an increase in potholes and carriageway deterioration.  

In addition, the council officially agreed in July to accept £4.2m of additional Government funding towards highway maintenance and pothole repairs for 2023 and 2024.  

The council has also stated that it will be carrying out major improvements to the county’s roads and pavements as part of an overall three-year, £120m investment programme.  

And the council has previously announced the roll-out of a countywide £1m repair programme from autumn, 2023, that has been targeting 124 residential roads. 

This work has also involved a process called micro-asphalt which seals the road with stone, cement and bitumen to not only repair potholes but to prevent further damage as the council contends with challenging weather conditions.  

Cllr Cupit explained decisions on which roads to repair first are based upon efforts to protect and prolong the life of a road at a lower cost allowing the council to do more overall work and to focus on more places in the long-term. 

The council has also stated that it is making the case nationally for more investment for highways work which is starting to filter through.  

Cllr Cupit added: “As a final but no less important note, we’re seeing an increase in abuse towards our staff who are out working on the network.  

“We understand the frustration, and share it, but hope people don’t take it out on those teams.  

“In many cases they’re working round the clock in often rubbish weather. Many are stepping into roles they don’t usually do to help. They’re doing the best they can so, genuinely, thank you to them.”  

Cllr Cupit’s correspondence to the Derbyshire Times’ readers was signed by herself and the council’s Director of Highways Julian Gould.  

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet also agreed at a meeting on January 11 to accept additional funding for the 2023-24 financial year of just over £3m from the Department for Transport of Local Highways Maintenance.   

The Council Leader, Cllr Barry Lewis, also praised the council’s workers during the cabinet meeting for their ‘exemplary work’ filling potholes over recent weeks and he added that the council wants to get its roads into the best condition possible.