THE ISSUE of potholes is being taken seriously by Herefordshire Council as it mobilises its highway teams to complete up to 150 repair jobs every day in response to a seasonal surge in road defects.

In last week’s edition the Ross Gazette pointed out the issues plaguing residents of Gatsford Lane in Brampton Abbotts with its pothole problem and as the paper went to press, notification came through that the problem areas had been fixed.

Recent weeks of cold weather and record levels of rainfall have created ideal conditions for potholes to form.

Water enters small cracks in the road surface, freezes, expands and gradually forces the surface apart.

Highway crews are currently working across the county, prioritising repairs to those potholes that present the biggest risk to road users.

Herefordshire Council reports that since the beginning of January, more than 3,000 road defects have been repaired, with the daily rate of up to 150 repairs expected to continue as teams work across the network.

In previous years, the number of road repairs has typically increased between January and March, but this year the scale and speed of damage caused by prolonged wet and cold weather has been exceptional, leading to a significant increase in defects across the network.

Herefordshire Council is responsible for maintaining more than 2,000 miles of road and operates a nationally recognised inspection regime to identify defects and prioritise repairs.

As well as fixing potholes, the Council is investing in longer-term work to improve the roads and reduce future damage. This includes repairing larger worn-out sections of road, planning new surface treatments and improving drainage to prevent water damage.

During the current financial year, the Council has completed 47 miles of road resurfacing and 62 miles of preventative surface dressing. This work is continuing, and the resurfacing programme for the year ahead is already in development.

Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for roads, Cllr Barry Durkin, said: “Over recent weeks many people have raised concerns about the growing number of potholes across Herefordshire. We want people to know that we hear these concerns and we are taking action.

“The recent weather has created the perfect conditions for potholes to form, but our crews are working hard to complete as many repairs as possible. The Council recognises how important safe and reliable roads are for residents, businesses and communities, and remains committed to improving the network — not just reacting to damage but building a better road system for the future.”

The Council has increased investment in road maintenance. In 2025/26, an additional £13.5m has been committed to road resurfacing, patching and preventative treatments across the county.

Cllr Durkin added: “We would like to thank all our residents for their patience while our crews continue the repair work, and we would encourage people to report potholes using our Report It app. This is the most effective way for us to gather information and plan inspections and repairs.”

You can report a pothole by visiting: herefordshire.gov.uk/reportingapp/index.