Stepped-Up Pothole Repairs Underway Across Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove City Council has significantly increased its efforts to repair roads and pavements across the city following a surge in damage caused by weeks of cold and wet weather at the start of the year. In response to worsening conditions, the council has expanded its repair operation throughout March, increasing the number of […]

Brighton & Hove City Council has significantly increased its efforts to repair roads and pavements across the city following a surge in damage caused by weeks of cold and wet weather at the start of the year.

In response to worsening conditions, the council has expanded its repair operation throughout March, increasing the number of maintenance teams from just 2 to 10 working across Brighton & Hove.

The intensified effort follows a sharp rise in repair activity earlier this year. In January, council teams repaired 1,004 potholes, a figure which climbed to 1,374 in February. Alongside road repairs, 610 pavement defects were also addressed over the same two-month period.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said the council is prioritising improvements to the city’s roads and pavements amid growing public frustration.

“Fixing our roads and pavements is a top priority for us which is why we’ve more than quadrupled the number of teams repairing our roads. We fixed more potholes last month than in January and that number is set to increase again in March.

“We know people are frustrated with the condition of some of our roads and we need to make them better. Years of underinvestment has led to a huge backlog in repairs and maintenance, not just in Brighton & Hove, but across the country.

“But we have committed to spend at least £8.8 million making them better over the next 12 months, including £2.2 million on fixing the most immediate problems.

“We’re acting now to fix the most serious problems. Longer term, we have a clear maintenance plan in place which will extend the life of our roads and pavements, stop potholes developing in the first place and reduce the need for repair.”

The council has also outlined how it assesses and responds to reports of potholes and other road defects. Every report submitted by residents is investigated, while inspection teams proactively monitor road conditions to identify issues before they worsen.

Each defect is assessed based on factors including size, depth, location and potential risk to the public. Once evaluated, repairs are prioritised and carried out within set timeframes ranging from as little as 2 hours for urgent hazards, to 24 hours, 7 days or up to 28 days depending on the severity and location of the issue.

The increased investment and expanded repair teams form part of a broader strategy aimed at tackling the city’s maintenance backlog while improving long-term road quality across Brighton & Hove.