Swindon Borough Council has ramped up its calls for additional government funding to support essential road repairs across the borough. With Chancellor’s Autumn Budget just around the corner, the Council is calling for extra resources to continue its proactive approach to improving Swindon’s highways.
Between April and September 2024, the Council’s highways teams repaired 3,882 potholes, highlighting both the scale of local road damage and the dedication of those working to make roads safer for drivers and cyclists alike. However, the Council warns that achieving a ‘like new’ road condition across the borough’s extensive 522-mile network would come with a price tag of approximately £142 million.
Due to budget constraints, the Council has allocated £2 million for proactive road resurfacing, £170,000 for reactive pothole repairs, and £715,000 for patching more extensive road damage in the 2024/25 financial year. Even with these funds, pothole repairs remain an ongoing challenge, and much of the work relies on the Council’s highway inspectors, who assess 70 per cent of potholes as part of regular checks.
Marcia Belcher, a member of Swindon’s highways inspection team, explained the importance of public involvement in reporting road issues. “We rely on residents actively sharing reports of problems they spot with us,” she said. “We’ll risk-assess any reports we get and ask our colleagues to carry out repairs to the most serious defects as soon as possible. While we cover all the roads across the Borough, it wouldn’t be possible to do our work without the support of local people.”
Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Transport, emphasised that road maintenance remains a top priority for residents. However, he noted that without adequate funding, councils are fighting an uphill battle. “Our hard-working teams continue to use the limited budget we have available to monitor, repair and prevent potholes. But the RAC and other organisations recognise that councils simply haven’t had the financial support they need to bring the standard of the roads in their care up to a reasonable standard.”
A recent report by the National Audit Office underlined the need for better funding allocations to support the local road networks effectively. Councillor Watts expressed hope that the Chancellor would recognise the critical need for additional investment to maintain and improve road quality, ensuring safer travel conditions for all.
Residents wishing to report a pothole can visit the Council’s website and use the online map tool, making it easier for inspectors to locate and assess the reported issue.
